SUKABUMI, WEST JAVA – Every morning, in Cibitung Village, Cibitung District, Sukabumi Regency, the journey to seek knowledge is a struggle. For students of Ciloma Public Elementary School and Cibitung 4 Public Junior High School, crossing the Cikaso River is not just a routine, but a gamble. The old boats they use, dating back to 2019, are already in poor condition. Their walls are leaking, and the wood is rotting from age, yet there is no alternative.
This makeshift mode of transportation is the only bridge connecting their homes to the school. Without the boats, their journey would be much longer and more arduous. Not only students, but teachers and the general public also rely on these fragile boats for daily activities, such as going to the fields, working, and accessing healthcare services at the community health center.
This condition has triggered deep concern. The safety of the nation’s future generations and the mobility of residents in the Disadvantaged, Frontier, and Outermost (3T) regions are at stake. There is an urgent need for safe and adequate transportation, not only to support education but also as an important evacuation route when natural disasters strike.
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In light of this harsh reality, Dompet Dhuafa, through its Disaster Management Center (DMC), has stepped in to bring hope. On Thursday (July 17, 2025), DMC Dompet Dhuafa donated two new motorized boats to SDN Ciloma. These boats, measuring 9 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and 3 centimeters in thickness, are not merely transportation tools but symbols of care and investment in the future.
In addition to the boats, Dompet Dhuafa also handed over 46 life jackets (for both children and adults) and two ring buoys for safety purposes. DMC Dompet Dhuafa also assisted in the renovation of the boat dock, equipping it with clear signage to ensure safer and more structured access.
The symbolic handover was made to the Head of SDN Ciloma, witnessed by the Head of the Social Affairs Office of Sukabumi Regency, Wawan Godawan; the Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Sukabumi, Deden Sumpena; as well as community leaders and local parents.
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Shofa Qudus, Head of DMC Dompet Dhuafa, emphasized that this assistance is the result of a collaborative effort that prioritizes the welfare of the community. “Based on the assessment results, we see that additional boats are urgently needed. These boats will not only serve as transportation for students, teachers, and the general public for educational and daily activities, but also as a means of evacuation for residents in the surrounding area in the event of a natural disaster,” he said.
Deden Sumpena, Head of the Sukabumi District Disaster Management Agency, welcomed this collaboration, emphasizing the importance of Dompet Dhuafa’s role in the cycle of mitigation, emergency response, and post-disaster recovery. “We also invite potential volunteers, especially Dompet Dhuafa, to continue to help the Ciloma area,” he added.
For the Head of SDN Ciloma, Mumus, this assistance is a breath of fresh air. “What you have given us is not just material support, but also a form of care, love, and the spirit of mutual cooperation that we deeply feel,” Mumus said tearfully.
With the new boat, students can now travel to school more safely and enthusiastically. Residents can also use the boat for various public needs, ensuring that life in Cibitung Village continues to run smoothly. May this assistance be a good deed by the donors in providing safety and security for the residents, as well as realizing the dream of education that is no longer hindered. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and Photos: Arifian Fajar, DMC
Editor: Dhika