BOGOR —-— That day, Wednesday (April 29, 2026), was a memorable moment for Khairu (11), an elementary school student. When we met him, he was standing among hundreds of stacks of English dictionaries, his eyes scanning them one by one until he chose the one that best suited him.
The dictionaries were neatly arranged, side by side with rows of other books on the shelves. Khairu looked amazed as he had the opportunity to visit a large bookstore like Gramedia for the first time. To him, the place felt so vast and full of choices.
He was one of the beneficiaries of the “Shopping with Orphans” program organized by Dompet Dhuafa in collaboration with Gramedia Cibinong Citi Mall Bogor, and supported by PT Raja Rasa Kuliner, which also contributed its corporate zakat.
It wasn’t just joy that overwhelmed him, but also a deep sense of emotion and gratitude that he could hardly hide. Khairu even shed a few tears when he was able to shop to meet his school needs.
“I’m so happy and a little sad because I got to go shopping, play with others, and buy things to help me study,” he said, wiping away his tears.
Khairu also explained that what he needs right now is a dictionary to support his English studies, which he has just begun in sixth grade.
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“I bought a dictionary to study English; I really need one because sixth graders have started learning English. Later on, for example, if there’s an English word here, it’ll have the Indonesian translation next to it, so Khairu needs this. I didn’t have one yet, but since it’s free, I can get this dictionary,” she continued, pointing to the dictionary she had chosen.
In addition to the dictionary, he also bought other school supplies and equipment such as books, pencil cases, and writing utensils. Khairu is the fifth of seven siblings. He admitted that he often helps his mother with household chores such as sweeping, washing, and looking after his younger siblings.
Khairu said his dream is to become a firefighter. He wants to be able to help people, especially during fires, including rescuing those still trapped inside their homes. For him, helping others in difficult situations is what he wants to do in the future.
“Thank you to everyone who bought me these things. May you always be healthy, amen, and may your blessings flow smoothly, amen,” he concluded.
Khairu and 29 other children were part of a charitable collaboration between Dompet Dhuafa, Gramedia, and PT Raja Rasa Kuliner. Through this partnership, they not only had the opportunity to purchase school supplies, but also received financial assistance and copies of the Quran from the Happy Family Coloring program initiated by Gramedia.
Etika Setiawanti, Director of Resources & Mobilization at Dompet Dhuafa, noted that the Belanja Bareng Yatim program, organized in partnership with Gramedia, has now been held for the seventh time since Ramadan. She also expressed her appreciation for the collaboration with Gramedia and PT Raja Rasa Kuliner.
“We at Dompet Dhuafa would certainly like to thank Gramedia and PT Raja Rasa Kuliner for their collaboration. Masya Allah, the results collected show that Gramedia truly has a very strong brand. We hope this collaboration can continue in the future; perhaps we can create similar events so that the benefits can be felt more widely,” said Etika Setiawanti.
In line with this, Gramedia, represented by Agung Prabowo, also expressed the hope that this collaboration would not end here, but would continue in the form of other activities. He also hoped that this event would truly be beneficial, not only for the children receiving assistance, but also for the partners involved.
“We hope that this event can bring benefits—certainly for all the children, for our media partners, and also for Dompet Dhuafa—and especially for the donor, PT Raja Rasa Kuliner, also known as D’Kriuk. May it bring blessings to D’Kriuk. Of course, this event could take place thanks to the participation and collaboration of many parties,” added Agung.
Alhamdulillah, the children came home not only with a gift but also with a smile, a sign that they are not alone. Dompet Dhuafa, together with its charitable partners, remains committed to bringing smiles and support to them. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editor: Dhika