Despite almost daily student demonstrations, Asia's economic meltdown affects many needy people for whom politics takes a back seat to feeding their children. This is particularly true in poorer areas of Kalibaru, in the Cilincing area of north-east Jakarta. Here World Vision is distributing food in payment for work to those hit by this economic crisis.

Work performed by residents was decided by community members. People from the area, representing 3000 families, help maintain community structures such as cleaning sewers and rebuilding health posts. Projects also improve the community by reclaiming land and building a playground for young people. In addition, the activities provide employment for families and young people in the community.

In return for five hours of work, participating community members receive 3 kilograms of rice. The distribution is providing 22 kilograms of rice every two weeks -- enough for more than two weeks food. Over the life of the project more than 1,386 metric tons of rice will be distributed.

One of the most ambitious projects is building a 200 meter 4 foot wide canal from the Java sea into a lagoon which bumps up against the community. The lagoon is being built with bags of shells which come from the clam shelling trade, adjacent to the project. Hundreds of bags of shell are used like sandbags to channel tide waters which flow into the lagoon. The goal of the project is to drain tidal land for a football field. In a community with increasing unemployment and crime, the community leaders see the field as a vital way of providing young people with recreational opportunities such as soccer.

In addition, the project, valued at more than $600,000, would allow for the reclamation of land in this overcrowded fishing area. The huge piles of garbage which fill and surround the lagoon will be removed and used as landfill, near the lagoon -- creating new land for homes.