PANDEGLANG, BANTEN — Collaboration of kindness can be done on similar backgrounds, one of which is in terms of education. This is also what moved the students and teachers of Mutiara Harapan Islamic School (MHIS) to share kindness with MI Amarullah students in Gunung Batu Village, Cibaliung District, Pandeglang Regency, Banten on Thursday (22/2/2024).
MHIS collaborated with Dompet Dhuafa in the Millennial Build Schools Program-an educational program that seeks to enable children in rural areas to study comfortably-to renovate the MI Amarullah school building. MHIS students raised Rp282,924,000 (two hundred eighty-two million nine hundred twenty-four thousand rupiah) from fundraising activities and partnered with PT Henan Putihrai Manajemen.
In addition to construction, donations were given in the form of school and sanitation equipment, as well as benches worth a total of Rp80,630,000 (eighty million six hundred thirty thousand rupiah), and in the form of checks worth Rp202. 294,000 (two hundred and two million two hundred and ninety-four thousand rupiah).
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The Principal of MHIS, Romansyah, said that this event aims to increase the students’ sense of empathy. This annual event organized by MHIS is also a means of positive activities and friendship with remote children. In addition to building construction, he said that MHIS plans to hold sustainable activities with MI Amarullah, namely empowering the teaching staff.
“They (MHIS students) raise funds by trading food, making proposals and presenting them to partners/collaborators. This annual event is a rihlah as well as an effort to train students’ empathy. Insha Allah, there will be a continuation of activities after the building (MI Amarullah) is ready,” said Romansyah.
This was welcomed by Siti Sulasiah, the principal of MI Amarullah. Siti said that she and her students have long dreamed of a proper building to study in. Siti explained that during the rainy season, water enters the classroom because the windows are only made of wire. But during the day, they have to feel the heat of the sun that penetrates the entire room. The number of benches is also inadequate. Sometimes two students have to sit on one bench.
Faqih Syaraffaddin as GM of Dompet Dhuafa’s ZIS Collection, on his occasion conveyed Ministry of Education and Culture data stating that as many as 1.2 million classrooms in Indonesia were damaged. In this case, Dompet Dhuafa is determined through the Millennial Build Schools Program to invite young people to contribute to raising funds for the development of the world of education.
“God willing, the construction of the MI Amarullah Building will be carried out within two months,” said Faqih.
The event titled “Sister School Charity Involvement” was then closed with the laying of the first stone by Ari Citra Asmara as the head of PT Henan Putihrai Manajemen, Suhaemi as the representative of MI Amarullah, Romansyah and Syafiq as the Principal and Chairman of MHIS OSIS, Faqih Syarafaddin as GM of Dompet Dhuafa ZIS Collection, and Empud Nahrowi as the Head of Lurah.
The activity continued with fun learning with MI Amarullah and MHIS students, socialization of sanitation and types of waste, and submission of sanitation tools by MHIS students. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text & Photo: Hany Fatihah Ahmad
Editor: Dhika Prabowo