WEST JAVA — Since 1962, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) Taman Bhakti has been established as a primary educational institution in Kampung Kandang Bhakti, Cemplang Village, Cibungbulang District, Bogor Regency. Located far from the hustle and bustle of the city and difficult to reach by public transportation, this school is the only hope for children in the area to achieve a better future. It is here that the young generation from families of farmers, laborers, and daily workers learn to read, write, and count, and are instilled with high aspirations, despite their limited resources.
For more than six decades, MI Taman Bhakti has witnessed the determination to learn amid dire conditions. The classrooms, with their bare walls, are beginning to rot with age. The roof often leaks when it rains, forcing the children to move their desks so their books don’t get wet. Most of the desks and chairs are rotten.
In other parts of the school, the condition of the building is even dangerous. Holes in the roof and broken wood make teachers constantly worry when the weather is bad. However, none of this dampens the children’s enthusiasm for learning. Every morning, they arrive with cheerful faces, bringing hope amid the limitations.
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After decades of standing as it was, MI Taman Bhakti is now undergoing renovations. Through the collaboration between Dompet Dhuafa and Audy Dental, the construction and renovation of the school has finally been realized. The construction process began in July 2025 and included two classrooms, a teachers’ room, and new toilets, which are now sturdy and ready for use.
This long process finally reached its peak on Friday (10/10/2025), when the new MI Taman Bhakti building was officially inaugurated in an atmosphere of gratitude and emotion. Present at the event were Utammi Sri Lestari, Manager of Partnership ZIS Dompet Dhuafa; Adityo Nugroho, Creative Director of Audy Dental; Agus Husen, Principal of MI Taman Bhakti; and Muid, Head of RW 04 Kampung Kandang Bhakti. The students, teachers, and local residents warmly welcomed the invited guests with great enthusiasm.
In his speech, Agus Husen expressed his gratitude and thanks to all those who had helped realize the long-held dream of his village residents.
“Alhamdulillah, now we can gather in this magnificent MI building. In the past, our roof was leaky and at risk of collapsing, but now it is sturdy. The floors are shiny ceramic, and the walls are solid. Hopefully, the children will be more enthusiastic about learning, and parents will be more confident in sending their children to MI Taman Bhakti,” he said emotionally.
On behalf of the partner, Adityo Nugroho said that Audy Dental’s presence is not only in dental care but also in creating change for the education of Indonesian children. He emphasized the importance of creating a safe and healthy learning environment as the foundation for the future of the nation.
“We saw that the previous building was very unsafe. Therefore, we wanted to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment. This may be a small step, but hopefully, it will bring continuous benefits. We hope that all parties can maintain and take care of this school so that its benefits will be sustainable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Utammi Sri Lestari emphasized that this program is part of her institution’s commitment to education, which not only focuses on improving the capacity of teachers and students, but also on providing adequate educational facilities and infrastructure.
“This is not the first time we have collaborated with Audy Dental. Together, we want to bring the spirit of education to the community. Hopefully, teachers and students can learn safely and comfortably, become a brilliant generation, and spread the goodness that has been realized today,” she said.
The highlight of the event was marked by a ribbon cutting and a joint prayer, where all attendees were immersed in an emotional atmosphere. Some teachers were seen shedding tears of joy. One of them was Muhammad L. Baejuri, a senior teacher who has served at this school for more than 20 years.
“I used to teach under a rotten and leaky roof, but now this school stands majestically. It feels like a dream,” he said with teary eyes.
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On the other hand, cheerful faces radiate from the students who are now studying in new classrooms that are clean and bright. Halda, a 6th grade student who aspires to be a doctor, innocently expresses her happiness.
“Now the school is nice and comfortable, so I want to study harder to become a doctor,” she said enthusiastically.
Now, MI Taman Bhakti no longer looks like an old building in the outskirts of Bogor. This old school has transformed into hope, a spirit of mutual cooperation, and tangible proof that collaboration for good can transcend distance and time. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika