December 12, 2009
A bronze statue of barry as a 10 y/o was unveiled in Menteng Park, Central Jakarta to coincide with his receiving the Nobel Prize. The government did not commission or pay for it – the Friends of Obama Foundation found eight Indonesian patrons, a television station and a charity that helps Indonesia’s urban poor. How much food could $10,600 buy?
Friends of Obama Foundation Chairman Ron Muller:
We thought wouldn’t it be great to have a stature of his mere as a child not as the resident – but as a child to be an inspiration to the Indonesian people. It’s been very well received by the government, as well as the teachers and the students.
It’s not a political act. It’s purely inspirational. We want kids to look at it and say ‘wow, he played around here and now he’s a world leader’.
“Barry Dreams Come True”
Don’t know the significance of the necklace.
Graphic artist Leo Angelo
Sculptor Edi Chaniago
Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni;
We welcome the statue, which is designed to give Indonesian children the spirit to reach their dreams. There is a message through the young Obama statue that any child and anyone from any background can reach their dreams if they fight for it persistently.
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Inscriptions:
A young boy named barry played with his mother Ann in Menteng area. He grew up to be the 44th President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Barack Obama
Eleanor Roosevelt:
The future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams.
Source: The Jakarta Post
