JAKARTA — The faces of dozens of orphans lit up with joy as they arrived at the parking lot of Ancol, Jakarta, on the morning of Saturday (25/11/2023). Bursting with excitement, they looked forward to the adventures awaiting them at the Little Explorer Ancol 2023 event. This event, facilitated by Dompet Dhuafa, promised an exploratory journey through the Seaworld and Ocean Dream Ancol attractions for these children. For the majority of the participants from three orphanages in Bogor, Tangerang, and Jakarta, it marked their inaugural visit to the Ancol tourist spot.
“It’s thrilling to have a trip to Ancol. This is my first time here. I’m overjoyed to enter the Seaworld aquarium and try out some of the rides. It’s been an incredibly fun and exciting day. I hope to visit Ancol again,” shared Bahagia Maulida, a second-grade junior high school student who participated in the Little Explorer Ancol 2023 event.
Despite a heavy downpour soaking the Ancol area, the enthusiasm of the children remained undiminished as they took part in the Little Explorer Ancol 2023 activities. This event, a collaborative effort between Dompet Dhuafa and Duha Muslimwear, provided 40 orphans with a novel experience.
Baca juga: Lagi, DDV Helat Little Explorer 2023, Jelajah Budaya Nusantara di Sumsel
The Little Explorer Ancol 2023 kicked off with a tour of the giant aquarium, acquainting the children with various fish and marine animals in Seaworld. They then tried out multiple rides at Ocean Dream Ancol. This edition of Little Explorer also featured dolphin and sea lion shows, a visit to see the penguins, and a 5-Dimension ride experience.
“This event is a result of the partnership between Dompet Dhuafa and Duha Muslimwear. The campaign ran during the last Ramadan, where for every Duha Muslimwear product sold, Rp5,000 was donated to children in the foundations, including orphans and widows,” explained Dian Sukma Riani, a Dompet Dhuafa Partnership Team member overseeing the event.
“Fortunately, today’s execution allowed us to take 40 children from three foundations to Seaworld and Ocean Dream to experience the attractions there. They also enjoyed a meal together and received school kit packages. We hope the children who joined today’s trip experienced joy exploring Ancol, a place where many of them had never visited before,” added Sukma.
The delight of discovering Ancol was not just felt by the children and the teams from Dompet Dhuafa and Duha Muslimwear. Gratitude was also expressed by a guardian from the Nurussibyan Pakuhaji Foundation, Tangerang, who appreciated the opportunity to take the children in her care on a recreational trip to Ancol.
“Alhamdulillah, we were given the chance to bring the children here (Ancol) for recreation. Their excitement began last week when they found out about the Ancol trip. They were thrilled at the prospect of visiting Ancol, especially since it was the first time for most of them,” said Yunita Mawardi, a guardian at the Nurussibyan Pakuhaji Foundation, Tangerang, Banten.
“I hope this collaboration continues to spread joy among underprivileged children, providing them with more experiences like this trip to Ancol,” Yunita expressed her hopes. (Dompet Dhuafa/Taufan YN)