BANTEN — Ideally, every school building should have adequate sanitation facilities, but not Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) Auladul Fazri. For years, students of MI Auladul Fazri have had difficulty accessing toilets or MCK, because they do not have toilet facilities. The facilities and infrastructure of the school, which stands on an area of 2,500 square meters, are only three narrow classrooms.
Since its establishment, this school has not had toilet facilities. Concerningly, MI Auladul Fazri students are forced to relieve themselves in the garden or rice fields. In addition, they also sometimes go to people’s houses to urinate.
Students usually carry buckets to fetch water from the river and then use it to defecate or urinate in the garden. This condition certainly raises many problems, such as health problems, as well as endangering the safety of the students.
“I am very concerned about the children when they want to relieve themselves, sometimes they go to the residents’ houses. Sometimes in the rice fields or in the kebon. I was very concerned when we didn’t have a toilet. Now, Alhamdulillah, donors have helped. Alhamdulillah, now the toilet is good. There is a place to take ablution, there is also a complete toilet, in the past , we used to take ablution water from the river, one compartment was brought to take ablution water,” said Rosikah, Head of MI Auladul Fazri.
“In the past , there were no toilets, so we carried water (buckets) while going to the forest, sometimes to residents. There was no water in the office either. Alhamdulillah, we were given assistance, so now we have water,” she continued.
Seeing these conditions, XM Indonesia, a company based in Cyprus, Europe, through the Millennial Build a School Program, comes to provide real solutions. In collaboration with Dompet Dhuafa, XM Indonesia built a new toilet at the school. This new sanitation facility is expected to provide comfort and support teaching and learning activities at MI Auladul Fazri.
On Tuesday (5/11/2024), Dompet Dhuafa Banten inaugurated sanitation facilities in the form of toilets, sinks, and wudu stations, in collaboration with XM Indonesia. The inauguration as well as the handover of school infrastructure units in the form of toilet facilities for MI Auladul Fazri was carried out in Pamatang Kiara Village, Curug Village, Cimanggu District, Pandeglang Regency.
The handover was carried out directly by the Branch Manager of Dompet Dhuafa Banten, Mokhlas Pidono, to the Principal of MI Auladul Fazri, Rosikah. The event was also attended by the head of the school committee, the teachers, and students of MI Auladul Fazri.
In addition to toilet facilities, XM Indonesia also set up a sink and ablution area. This is to make it easier for children and teachers to worship. Now, they no longer need to carry buckets and fetch water from the river.
This program is a tangible proof of XM Indonesia’s concern for access to proper education, especially in rural areas such as Pandeglang. Students and teachers can now use more decent toilets, making the school environment healthier, and supporting the development of a better generation.
This step is also part of Dompet Dhuafa and XM Indonesia’s efforts to improve the quality of education and sanitation in areas that need more attention.
Rosikah said that the new toilet at MI Auladul Fazri has improved the children’s enthusiasm for learning. Their happiness is shown by their enthusiasm when they arrive at school, who immediately go to the toilet to wash their feet or wash their hands.
“I would like to thank XM Indonesia for providing assistance to us, MI Auladul Fazri. Alhamdulillah, now we don’t go to the garden to defecate, we don’t take water from the river, because we have a water pump, a reservoir. Now if you want to take ablution, just turn the faucet, hopefully XM Indonesia will be more advanced and given a lot of sustenance, “added Rosikah. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Anndini Dwi Putri, Aryo Prasojo
Editors: Ronna, Dhika