JAKARTA — Like trees that continue to grow and shade many people, Dompet Dhuafa seeks to expand the benefits of kindness among people in need. The branches of the tree meet and unite with other trees, making it more and more people who benefit from it.
On Wednesday (31/07/2024), Dompet Dhuafa together with Al-Hidayah Perguruan Diponegoro Foundation and Green Pramuka Square invited 140 orphans to shop for their needs and desires. The event entitled Belanja Bareng Yatim (BBY) this time took place at Lotte Mart which also supported this good event. Support also came from fast food restaurant Hoka Hoka Bento, which is very concerned about orphans.
This moment was also used by the Diponegoro College Student Organisation (OSIS) to interact more closely with the orphans. They (orphans) are elementary school children who live in the vicinity of Perguruan Diponegoro School, or in the Rawamangun Village area, Pulo Gadung District, East Jakarta. By doing so, the gap between them is expected to be narrowed.
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For the implementation of this event, Ahmad Shonhaji as Chairman of the Dompet Dhuafa Social and Da’wah Programme Management Partner appreciated all parties involved. He mentioned that the Belanja Bareng Yatim event initiated by Dompet Dhuafa was inspired by the story of the Prophet Muhammad who brought an orphan home. The Prophet gave him the best clothes, food until he was full, and perfume. Afterwards, the child came out of the Prophet’s house with a smile and a happy face and then felt confident to play with his friends.
‘Hopefully what has been given, what has been donated, is something to fulfil the Prophet’s love for orphans. We also invite stakeholders to continue to strive to realise this kind of event at all times and throughout the ages. So that blessings will always be present in our midst,’ said Ahmad.
Imam Parikesit, Chairman of the Al Hidayah Foundation, said that this activity of caring for orphans has become an annual routine agenda by the Al Hidayah Foundation of Diponegoro College. However, he said, charity activities are usually organised within the scope of the school by inviting and providing assistance to them. For the sake of the good intentions of this programme, Al Hidayah Foundation continues to coordinate with Rawamangun Village, especially PKK women in embracing orphans. That way, the beneficiaries of this programme will, insha Allah, be right on target.
Meanwhile, Liza Monalisa as Mall Director of Green Pramuka Square Mall, said that her party was also very happy for this agenda. The mall also prepared all the facilities that would be needed for the event to run smoothly.
‘It’s extraordinary to collaborate with hundreds of orphans,’ she said.
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Al Hidayah Foundation agrees that a school should not operate exclusively. Instead, it should have a close relationship with the surrounding community. Inevitably, the running of the education process in a school is due to the support and co-operation of the surrounding community.
‘Today is an extraordinary moment. We collaborated with Dompet Dhuafa and Green Pramuka Square to make the orphan donation event a memorable moment. Both for the orphans and the students of Diponegoro University. Our goal is to instil caring values in the school environment. This includes students, staff, and parents through the student committee,’ said Imam.
To accompany the orphaned children to shop at Lotte Mart, Diponegoro College involved 70 of its students to become older siblings. So, each older brother accompanied two younger orphans to shop for their needs. Technically, orphaned siblings are not allowed to shop for goods in the form of basic necessities. This is because the groceries or kitchen staples have been specially prepared by the Al Hidayah Foundation and Lotte Mart.
For almost two hours of shopping, the closeness between the older siblings and the orphans was getting stronger. In fact, some of the older siblings bought items personally for the younger siblings they assisted. The items were specially purchased outside of the rations provided by the organisers.
Not only shopping, the students of Perguruan Diponegoro and the orphans were also delighted by the presence of Islamic musical storytelling by Kak Zack and Kak Kanya, or Zakanya. Packed into a fairy tale with musical accompaniment, Zakanya introduced professions to the orphans. Both of them also inserted the message that whatever one’s profession must be done honestly, trustworthy, and of course beneficial to others. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika Prabowo