JAKARTA —-— The laughter and joy of 2,000 orphans, underprivileged children, and Quran memorizers filled the Ecovention Ancol hall in Jakarta on Sunday (March 8, 2026). Among the 350 volunteers present at the Remember 2026 event to accompany the children was Rifda Aulia, a student from the Jakarta Institute of Quranic Sciences (IIQ), who attentively looked after dozens of children throughout the event.
For Rifda, her involvement in the Remember event marked her first experience as a Dompet Dhuafa Volunteer (DDV). She learned about the event from a friend who was already familiar with the Remember program. She didn’t hesitate and immediately signed up as a volunteer.
Previously, Rifda was already quite familiar with the world of volunteering. She had participated in social activities with various communities on several occasions, particularly in Islamic philanthropic initiatives. However, volunteering in a large-scale event like Remember provided a new experience for her.
“In my opinion, Remember is a super duper fun event. This is the first time I’ve participated in a volunteer activity with such a large number of participants and such incredible excitement,” said Rifda.
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To get to the event location from her home in Depok, West Java, Rifda took the Transjakarta public transportation early in the morning. The journey felt easy because she was already looking forward to meeting many enthusiastic children.
During the event, Rifda was assigned to accompany about 30 participating children. Together with them, she took part in various activities, ranging from sharing stories and enjoying the stage performances to breaking the fast together.
Amid the busyness of accompanying the children, there was one moment that left the deepest impression on her. It was when she joined the children she was accompanying in dancing to the music performed by the NSB Band.
“The most memorable part was when we had fun together by dancing with the children. It was so much fun. They were so cheerful,” she recalled with a smile.
According to Rifda, the happiness radiating from the children’s faces serves as a source of energy for the volunteers. Simple interactions like joking around, chatting, and taking photos together actually foster a warm sense of closeness.
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For Rifda, Remember is an enjoyable activity for both the children and the older volunteer siblings. It also serves as a gathering space that brings many hearts together in the spirit of sharing. There, volunteers and children can get to know one another, share stories, and encourage each other.
“I hope next year’s Remember will be even more amazing, with more children participating, its benefits reaching further, and the joy and happiness felt by even more people,” she hopes.
Rifda believes that activities like Remember play a crucial role in fostering children’s spirit to keep dreaming. Through their interactions with the older volunteer siblings, they can feel the support and motivation to pursue their aspirations.
“In my opinion, Remember can be a joyful event. The younger participants can meet the older volunteer mentors, share stories and experiences with one another. May their spirit remain strong and burning, so that one day they can realize their aspirations,” Rifda concluded. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika