BANTEN — On November 5, 2024, an emotional moment occurred in Matang Kiara Village, Ciburial Village, Cimanggu District, Pandeglang Regency, Banten. Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) Auladul Fajri, a small school located far from the main road, celebrated the completion of the school renovation process that had been carried out thanks to the collaboration between Dompet Dhuafa Banten Branch and Telkom Group.
The inauguration and handover of the new infrastructure, which includes a new room, sports field, and learning support packages, symbolizes the big changes that are now felt by students, teachers, and local residents.
MI Auladul Fajri, which currently has around 62 students, previously faced various limitations. The road access to the school was quite damaged, and the physical condition of the school, which only had three narrow and limited classrooms, affected the comfort and quality of learning of the students.
Some classes even had to be combined due to limited space. The school field, which was previously only dirt, made the shoes of the students and teachers dirty. This certainly disrupts ceremonial activities. The perforated classrooms also prevented students from focusing on their studies, as they could see and hear their friends in the next room.
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However, the school renovation process, which lasted for two months, managed to bring a breath of fresh air to the students and teachers. The speed of this renovation is inseparable from the active participation of residents who with the spirit of gotong royong helped with the construction. Students who were impatient with the changes even took off their shoes when entering the new classroom, as if to express their ‘respect’ for the facilities they had just received.
Principal of MI Auladul Fajri, Rosikah, gratefully expressed her happiness for the assistance received.
“There used to be only three classrooms, imagine at that time, two cramped classes studying together in one room. There were 62 students in grades 1-6,” she recalled.
Now, with more decent classrooms and a large sports field, the teaching and learning process at this school has become much more comfortable. The students can now study with more focus. The teachers also hope that the new facilities can make learning more effective, and the children can absorb the lessons more easily.
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“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the donors and all parties who have supported this construction. Hopefully this facility can be useful in improving the quality of education of students in our school. Hopefully yes. Because, the comfort between students and teachers, what is conveyed by the teacher, is quickly caught by the students,” continued Rosikah.
Rosikah also revealed that her school not only produces academically skilled students, but also achievers in various fields. Several trophies on display in her room show the brilliant achievements of MI Auladul Fajri students in the fields of Mathematics, Science, and Chess, both at the district and national levels.
A grade 6 student, Santi, with a cheerful smile said, “Now that the classrooms and the field are nice, I study so clean and comfortable. Even though it is small, my school is fun”. These words illustrate how much change the students feel.
This collaboration between Dompet Dhuafa and Telkom Group is not the first time. For a long time, both have synergized in various forms of kindness, ranging from humanitarian assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic, assistance for Palestine, to the distribution of zakat, assistance for orphans, and natural disasters.
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Dompet Dhuafa’s Partnership Team, Ayu Septiana, said that through this collaboration, it is hoped that not only MI Auladul Fajri school will benefit, but also improve the quality of education in other remote areas.
“With the support of various parties, children in this region now have a greater opportunity to achieve their dreams. This spirit of gotong royong and collaboration for good reminds us all that education is the right of every child, and every small step taken to improve educational facilities is a big step towards a better future,” he said.
The changes at MI Auladul Fajri are proof that kindness channeled sincerely can have a big impact on society. Through this collaboration, Dompet Dhuafa and Telkom Group have proven that with the right collaboration, children in need can get a better education. In the future, hopefully more schools can benefit from this collaboration of kindness. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Dhika, Aryo Prasojo
Editor: Dhika