The Mandalika, July 23, 2024 - To commemorate the 40th National Children's Day, ITDC and Gugah Nurani Indonesia Foundation (GNI) organized a series of activities including traditional children's games, digital literacy workshops for teenagers, and parenting discussions with parents at the Mandalika Bazaar, The Mandalika area, Tuesday (23/7).
The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of child protection among the community and work partners. It was attended by approximately 110 children and 35 parents. The event also saw the participation of ITDC representatives, including Project Construction Senior Manager ITDC Agus Setiawan, the wife of the Central Lombok Regent, Mrs. Baiq Nurul Aini Pathul Bahri, who is also the Chairperson of the Central Lombok Regency PKK Driving Team, Child Protection Expert Mr. Ruli Ardiansyah, SH.MH, a Law Lecturer at Mataram University, the Director of Sahabat Anak Volunteer, NTB Child Protection Agency members, Literacy Movement Activists from Central Lombok, and content creator Tris Shakti Permata, S.Pd.
ITDC President Director Ari Respati stated, “We are very proud to commemorate the 40th National Children's Day with the theme 'Protected Children, Indonesia Moves Forward.' ITDC is committed to making a real contribution to building a better future for the younger generation of Indonesia. ITDC not only prioritizes the physical protection of children but also adopts a holistic approach encompassing education, health, and equal opportunities for their growth and development.”
These initiatives align with ITDC's vision to be a sustainable agent of change in advancing the tourism sector in Indonesia, particularly in The Mandalika area, Central Lombok, NTB, inclusively.
Manager of Gugah Nurani Indonesia Foundation (GNI) Lombok, Denok Sari Saputri, stated, "National Children's Day is an important moment to raise children's awareness of their rights, especially those working as street vendors. Through this celebration, we want to campaign for the importance of education and playtime for children. We hope that through this campaign, children can experience the freedom to express themselves and receive full support for their development. This step is expected to ensure that every child in Indonesia has an equal opportunity to grow and develop optimally."
The wife of the Central Lombok Regent, Mrs. Baiq Nurul Aini Pathul Bahri, stated, “Through the celebration of National Children's Day, we focus on reducing stunting rates and child marriages. In Central Lombok Regency, the stunting rate reached 13.34% by the end of 2023, while the child marriage rate for those under 18 years old was 6.92%. We are committed to lowering these rates by supporting the mobile library program with the Mandalika Child Learning Center, managed by ITDC and the Gugah Nurani Indonesia Foundation.”
This program aims not only to improve children's literacy but also to educate parents on parenting knowledge. We hope to always make a real contribution to creating a stronger, more competitive generation ready to face the future.
With six sub-themes, this celebration emphasizes the protection and empowerment of children in various aspects of life, including: education on safe and wise internet use, encouraging children to voice their opinions in national development, instilling Pancasila values, encouraging children to lead and express their aspirations, providing parenting guidance in the digital era, and advocating for children's rights to live free from violence, early marriage, and exploitation. This activity is expected to provide significant benefits for children and parents, as well as inspire the broader community to continue protecting and supporting Indonesian children toward a better future.
Since October 2023, ITDC and GNI have collaborated to establish the Mandalika Child Learning Centre (CLC), which aims to provide child-friendly educational facilities in The Mandalika area and raise public awareness about the importance of children's right to education. This program provides facilities such as books, educational games, study, and play areas free of charge for children. The Mandalika CLC is open every Tuesday-Sunday from 14:00-17:00 WITA.
“This activity is not just a celebration but a tangible manifestation of our commitment to supporting the growth and protection of Indonesian children. Through various educational and inspiring activities, we hope to create a better and safer environment for children to grow and develop,” concluded Ari.