ANAK BANGSA - the Children - Get to know Ili

<body> <p>Get to know Ili<br /> A mature 10-year-old boy</p> <p>To find out what it means to be one Anak Bangsa’s children meet 10-year-old Ili. At the centre Ili is very eager, enthusiastic, outgoing and extremely happy. lli is a different child at home, introvert and feeling a great sense of pressure and responsibility. Helping his family whenever he can.</p> <p></p> <p>Ili lives with his parents, one brother and three sisters in a small bamboo house. It is dark and unhygienic. There is no bathroom, kitchen or furniture, only some mats on the sandy floor to sit and sleep on.<br /> <br /> Stalls full of goats and horses surround the house. The animals are not theirs; Ili and his family are taking care of them. When the animals (and their little ones) are sold, a share of the profit goes to the family.<br /> <br /> Ili’s father is a ‘cidomo’ driver (horse car) his mother collects plastic to sell and the eldest sister sells ‘pisang goreng’ (fried banana).<br /> <br /> Even though everybody does their best, money is often short for day-to-day family needs. Ili feels a great sense of responsibility towards his family.<br /> <br /> “When there is a need for money, I go on the street to earn it. Sometimes, I collect plastic or iron. For 1 kg of plastic I can get 2500 Ruphia (0,15€). On Sunday’s I help my sister selling pisang goreng at the local kinder gardens nearby. I help whenever I can.”<br /> <br /> At home Ili is the “big brother” for 5-year-old Sara and 3-year-old Oki and looks after them very well. He is also in charge of the animals, feeding the goats and washing the horses in the river.<br /> <br /> Before Ili attended the Anak Bangsa centre his dream was to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a cidomo driver. He now has different plans for his future and wants to become a policeman.<br /> <br /> “Being a policeman makes me very handsome. It looks good on me. And I can protect people and catch thieves!”</p> <p>Anak Bangsa supports and encourages Ili’s dream and he is confident that the foundation can help him to build a better future.<br /> <br /> “The foundation has changed my life. Every day at the centre I learn more and more. I can draw and play. Because of Anak Bangsa I have high expectations for my future.”</p> </body>