The Rotary East Java Hearing Project

THE PROJECT

The Rotary East Java Hearing Project involves extensive participation by Rotary and professionals in Western Australia and East Java, helped by the fact that the two are Sister States. It is coordinated by the Rotary Club of Floreat and the Rotary Club of Surabaya, in the regional capital of East Java. It was enabled by Rotary Foundation under Humanitarian Grant No 7781. Key partners are Australian Hearing, Dr Soetomo Hospital, the Karya Mulya school, Rotary Foundation, and the Karya Adi Foundation.

The Project has two immediate aims. First, it sets-up and equips Indonesia's first public hearing centre, in Dr Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya, East Java. A wide variety of diagnostic and testing equipment has been assembled together with essential electronic and

other facilities to calibrate and maintain the equipment. Australian

Hearing has provided expert, technical guidance for the early

detection of deafness.

Second, the project has provided extensive new diagnostic and

teaching equipment, including toys, books and other learning

devices, to the Karya Mulya School for deaf children, also in

Surabaya. Over 350 kilograms of materials have been provided, with

Mrs Pat O'Sullivan providing expert and enthusiastic guidance on

toys and teaching devices.

The needs to improve hearing services in East Java, with a focus on children, are unimaginable. Half a million children in the Surabaya area have hearing problems. Only about 2,000 children have access to deaf schools. Hearing aids are a luxury. There is a desperate need for diagnostic equipment, calibration and testing facilities, and proper training of staff. Rotarians have been moved to action by an increased awareness of the needs of the deaf in Australia and elsewhere. The word "alingual", meaning a child without any publicly-recognisable language (because of deafness), reveals a profound individual and family tragedy.

In July, 1997, the Rotary Clubs of Floreat and Surabaya fonnally sought a Humanitarian Matching Grant from the Rotary Foundation to set up the flfst public hearing centre in all Indonesia, at Dr Soetomo Hospital. In November 1997, the Rotary Foundation Board approved, offering US$15,225 in Grant #7781 to match the Australian contribution (OS$7, 725) and Indonesian contribution (OS$7,500).

But the extreme political and economic impacts in Indonesia in

1997 and 1998 caused a shortfall ofUS$4,000 (approx. Aus$6,400) in the available Indonesian contribution. The rupiah devalued sixfold. The Floreat Club and individual donors most generously and quickly made up the shortfall, and the Rotary Foundation accepted the revised budget.

The prompt response by Floreat Rotarians to the Indonesian

tragedies provided persuasive leverage convincing others to do

likewise.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Floreat Rotary and Australian Hearing. With the aid of Ian Henderson, Peter Howes and Peter O'Byrne, the project has received reliable refurbished equipment from Australian Hearing to the value of over Aus$50,000. Ian Bruckshaw, Senior Technician, provides invaluable technical advice. Dr Harvey Coates and Dr Ian Wallace have donated equipment with a nominal 20-25 year life, worth some Aus$12,000. Since 1991, Mrs Pat O'Sullivan had also been discussing with Prof Harjono how to assist Karya Mulya School for Deaf Children. The Project enabled her to obtain and ship about 350 kilograms of toys and equipment to the school, giving exciting and efficient synergies with the Hospital.

Graham McHarrie, deputy-co-ordinator, a Floreat Rotarian and

Assistant District Governor, and David Edwards, Director of the

W.A. Trade Office in Surabaya, provide a variety of invaluable assistance.

ROTARY EAST JAVA HEARING PROJECT

A Partnership of . Rotary Foundation Humanitarian Grant No 7781 . Rotary Club ofFloreat (Co-ordinator) . Rotary Club of Surabaya . Australian Hearing . Dr Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya . Karya Mulya School, Surabaya . RotaryDistrict 9450 . Rotary District 3400 . Karya Adi Foundation . Rotary Club of Surabaya-Darmo . Western Australia Rotary Alumni Association