The Story of Bledhek, a Street Child with a Tattoo who is Now a Successful Person

MOJOKERTO (January 2, 2021) - The Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, explained her experience in fostering street children while she was the Mayor of Surabaya. Among the many street children who are fostered by the Surabaya City Government, one is called Bledhek.

Bledhek (Javanese) or lightning in Indonesian is a successful example of coaching street children. When Risma saw Bledhek for the first time, his body was full of tattoos. Risma challenged that she would nurture Bledhek to be a useful child, as long as he really wanted to change.

"There's a name Bledhek. I asked do you want to join me or not. His body is full of tattoos, here and here. If you want to join me and go to school, remove all the tattoos. Three years ago, Bledhek became a paskibraka at Surabaya City Hall. He studied at a PTN in Surabaya, "said Risma during a meeting with street children at the Mojopahit Foundation in Balong Cangkring (BC), Pulorejo Village, Pra Soldier Kulon District, Mojokerto City (02/01).

On that occasion, Risma had the opportunity to contact Bledhek through the telephone line and her voice was played in front of children who grew up in the former BC localization area. Risma asked Bledhek to tell the previous story before getting assistance from the Surabaya City Government.

However, it seems that Bledhek's explanation is limited to fleeting impressions. So that Risma cut her statement several times. "You were arrested by Satpol PP, right. You are ashamed, right? okay," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

To these children, Risma wanted to make Bledhek's story an example. That if they really want to change for the better, then the opportunity is wide open.

Risma provides support and motivates children who experience psychological disorders because they have grown up in brothels.

She asked these street children not to run and dare to face reality. "Don't run. If you run away from reality, then run to drugs, that's even harder. Because if you go to drugs you won't be able to come back," she said. 

"Come on, kids. Do you want to come with me? But you have to be sincere. It's difficult. It's not easy. But if you want to come along, you have to change now. Don't regret it when you're old. It's no use," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

For the handling of these various problems, Risma said she would map out what to do for the welfare of the people she met.

According to Risma, every place she visited had different problems. For this reason, her party must map related problems and find solutions.

"So, we are trying to map what we can do, so that we can review both our existing resources and the budget," she said.

In Mojokerto, the Social Welfare Service Recipients (PPKS) she met was different from those in other locations. "There were elderly people, beggars, pedicab drivers, street children, that's a different treatment from what I did for example in Ponorogo," she said.

Furthermore, in finding solutions, the residents of this ex-localization are not only given assistance. Still, Risma hopes that the assistance given will be able to make the residents of this ex- localization independent.

"So, it's not just being assisted and then released. We can't do it if it's just mentoring and training, we will also access marketing. Including the buildings that are here, " she said.

On this occasion, Risma symbolically hand over rice assistance worth Rp24 million, Rp166 million for Report Mandatory Recipient Institution (IPWL) in East Java, 80 nutritional packages for 80 children assisted by the Majapahit Foundation worth Rp24 million, and integrated and continued coaching IPWL of the Eklesia Foundation of Rp36 million.

Apart from Balong Cangkring, the Social Minister's group accompanied by the Director General of Social Rehabilitation Harry Hikmat also greeted people affected by leprosy in Sumber Glagah Village, Pacet District, Mojokerto Regency. In this village, there are hundreds of people suffering from leprosy.

The Ministry of Social Affairs will communicate the handling of sufferers with the Ministry of Health regarding drug support. "We can continue to supply it to residents here later. We can't just watch this," said Mrs. Risma.