BEKASI, WEST JAVA — Ramadan can be a moment to connect with each other in various forms. This time, Dompet Dhuafa through the Community Service Agency (LPM) collaborated with the deHakims Team to invite children with disabilities to share their experience of knowing a variety of animals at the conservation site owned by public figure Irfan Hakim, namely deHakims Aviary in Pondok Gede, Bekasi, West Java, Tuesday (27/3/2024).
That day, 30 children and 10 assistants from As-Syafi’iyah Special School (SLB) and Karya Bina Insan got to know various types of birds from the archipelago and abroad, turtles, ostriches to binturong.
Dompet Dhuafa’s LPM Programme Manager, Mustaki, appreciated the children’s high spirit to interact directly with various types of animals. He hopes that this experience can also be an unforgettable moment of friendship.
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‘To 30 wonderful children, I hope today can be a new education and experiment to get to know the animal world and interact directly. Ramadan brings us closer to our Creator, each other, the environment and animals,’ said Mustaki.
Team deHakims representative Rizal admitted that he had made special preparations to welcome the children with disabilities. In addition to keeping the cages clean, he and his team have prepared the technical delivery of information about the animals, so that it is more easily accepted by them.
‘I am very happy that Dompet Dhuafa invited this collaboration. We have prepared the best keepers and prepared information that is easily accepted by children. Earlier we were also assisted by their accompanying translator. I invite children not to hurt animals. I hope the children can take the essence of today’s experience. Hopefully the friendship will be maintained,’ said Rizal.
After the tour, the event continued with a storytelling performance of Jalu and Jaki from the deHakims Junior YouTube channel. The show was very interactive between the storyteller and the children as the audience. The children seemed to enjoy the show. Then while waiting for the Maghrib call to prayer, the children listened to tausiah from Ustaz Subhan Edi.
Vice Principal of SLB As-Syafi’iyah, Sitinah said that the visit received a good response from the children. According to her, interacting directly with animals is a new experience outside of school for them. The teacher, who has been working at the special school since 1994, said she was grateful because she felt that her students were getting more attention.
‘The children were very happy. This is a new experience for them. We are very grateful. This way, I feel that the children are cared for by their neighbours, and they feel the same way. So that they are even more eager to study at school. Today I am very grateful to Dompet Dhuafa and deHakims Aviary,’ said Sitinah.
The agenda was then closed with breaking the fast together, as well as distributing gifts in the form of school equipment and cash compensation by Dompet Dhuafa. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text & Photo: Hany Fatihah Ahmad
Editor: Dhika Prabowo