BOGOR, WEST JAVA — Like a rainbow stretching across the sky, every person’s life radiates beauty through their strengths and weaknesses. This includes those with disabilities, who prove that within every limitation lies invaluable strength and uniqueness.
Ibnu’s resolve, a third-grade student at the Special School (SLB) Alfiany in West Jakarta, sparked courage that even surpassed his fears. Ibnu demonstrated that his disabilities do not limit his ability to create and inspire.
Indeed, Ibnu Ilman Hanafi successfully performed a song popularized by Raim Laode in front of hundreds. His courage was showcased at the Stage of Art & Great Children’s Work, a program initiated by Dompet Dhuafa through its Community Service Institution (LPM) to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
On Saturday (9/12/2023), at Aeon Mall Sentul, Bogor, Ibnu’s performance mesmerized the audience with his beautiful voice. Initially, he confessed to feeling nervous and scared when faced with the crowd, as it was his first time performing in a mall, having only performed in school previously.
“Actually, to be honest, I was scared. It was a mix of feelings. I wasn’t stage-frightened, but I was embarrassed to perform in front of people,” said Ibnu.
He continued to nurture his passion for music. When he first heard the song “Komang” on a YouTube channel, Ibnu consistently memorized and practiced it for about a year.
“I kept singing and memorizing, and then I found the song Komang. For about a year, I’ve been memorizing that song,” added Ibnu.
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His efforts paid off, allowing him to give a captivating performance at the event. Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), the Stage of Art & Great Children’s Work boosted Ibnu’s confidence.
“I’ve never performed in front of so many people before. Usually, it’s just whole school watching, but this was almost an entire mall. And I ended up dropping the mic and just being confident. Thank you, Dompet Dhuafa, I’m also happy to meet other friends,” Ibnu added.
The Stage of Art & Great Children’s Work affirmed the spirit of care and equality for individuals with disabilities. Moreover, this event is hoped to serve as a platform to showcase the existence of people with disabilities.
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“Today’s event, among other things, commemorates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It aims to raise awareness among all parties, opening everyone’s eyes that there is no difference between those with special needs and those without. So, this is our way of showing everyone that these children are great, possessing abilities, talents, and creativity that are no less than other children,” said M Noor Awaluddin, the Head of LPM Dompet Dhuafa.
The concept of this activity was to organize a series of events involving Special Schools (SLB) through art exhibitions showcasing the students’ artworks and performances by SLB students from Jabodetabek.
Furthermore, the event aimed to empower students with disabilities to express themselves and explore their capabilities. This was also appreciated by the teachers, including Yusi Nurfirdausi, a teacher at SLB Insan Mandiri Depok.
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“It’s truly extraordinary. We hope this activity continues, so our children can keep growing and experiencing new things. This event boosts their confidence. They were very enthusiastic; they were truly happy, making them very happy on stage,” she said.
Additionally, in this year’s Humanesia program, Dompet Dhuafa continues to embrace equality and the importance of building an inclusive society, supporting equality for children with disabilities as a fundamental basis for fair and sustainable development. (Dompet Dhuafa/Anndini)