CIREBON, WEST JAVA — “I want to be a doctor, but I want to be a hafizah, because I have memorized the Qur’an too, because I want to crown my mother and father. My father is already gone, so I want to give him the best,” said a teenager who is struggling for her education and dreams.
Time seems so simple because it keeps going, second by second, without stopping. Every day is full of obstacles and experiences that shape every life. We strive to achieve our dreams, whether in terms of economy or intelligence in various fields. In the midst of all difficulties, we want to always give the best for the people we love, as long as we still have a chance in this world.
It’s about a life journey that is colored by various colors and dynamics. There are ups and downs, joys and sorrows. The story begins with a teenager who is struggling to get a high school education.
Salwa Nafeesah Sanda Kirana (15) is an orphan, still in the first grade of secondary education in non-formal education. She goes to school while staying at a boarding school, having to accept the fact that her father has been gone forever since mid-2023. He now lives with his mother and siblings. Currently, she likes to explore various things to increase her knowledge and insight.
Salwa – the 15-year-old’s nickname, was very enthusiastic when invited by the Al Anwar Foundation to take part in an educational tour to Cirebon and Purwokerto, namely in the “Young Traveling” program initiated by the Dompet Dhuafa Community Service Institute (LPM) on Saturday (16/7/2024).
After passing through various stages of selection, Salwa was chosen to be one of the “Young Traveling” participants, she eagerly prepared for the trip, especially since this was her first time riding a long-distance train. “It’s my first time riding a long-distance train, it’s comfortable and exciting too, especially since I was sitting near the window directly to the natural scenery,” said Salwa.
The “Young Traveling” event is a program aimed at 60 selected orphans from nine foundations or institutions, where they visit places that have educational value both from culture, typical food, historical relics that are still preserved and waste management. This time Dompet will invite the children to the Cirebon and Purwokerto areas.
“I’m happy, Alhamdulillah, I can meet friends who I don’t know yet, I can get to know new people and get new experiences too, one of which is knowing the genealogy of Sunan Gunung Jati, I got to know,” added Salwa.
Salwa admitted that she gained a lot of knowledge and insight during this educational trip.
“Now I’m at the Kasepuhan Cirebon Palace, there are so many lessons I learned here, starting from the lineage of Sunan Gunung Jati – Syarif Hidayatullah, and then there are buildings that have a philosophy, have a rich meaning, for example a building with 5 pillars is likened to the pillars of Islam, there are also two pillars symbolizing the two sentences of the creed,” continued Salwa.
As a teenager, Salwa has a thirst for general knowledge. The opportunity to visit historical places is a precious moment for her to deepen your understanding of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. Salwa is an outstanding student. In junior high school, she won silver and bronze medals in the National Science Olympiad in Integrated Physics.
Having aspirations to be a doctor who also memorizes the Quran, Salwa has proven her efforts, currently she has memorized up to juz 20.
“My father is sick, so I want to be the one who heals him,” said Salwa, as tears welled up in her eyes.
“For mothers, keep your spirits up, teteh promises to give you the best in the future, realize your mother’s dreams and father’s dreams that have not been accomplished, teteh promises InsyaAllah teteh follow. For Dompet Dhuafa, hopefully Dompet Dhuafa and LPM will be more blessed in the future, more successful and thank you for holding this event,” Salwa said.
Salwa is one of 60 beneficiaries who can experience happiness. Young Traveling is an effort to get to know the diverse culture and history of the region as well as to get education and motivation to continue pursuing dreams.
In Cirebon, participants will visit various places, including the Great Mosque of Sang Cipta Rasa and the Kasepuhan Palace, which is known for its artistic and philosophical value from its layout, building form, and architecture. Meanwhile, in Purwokerto, they will visit the General Sudirman Museum, Mr. Narwan’s Nopia & Mino Factory, and TPST Patikraja, which has won various national and international awards as an independent city with the best waste management.
Read also: Dompet Dhuafa Shopping with Orphans at Green Pramuka Square: Hafiz Qur’an Gives Gift to the Mother
“Alhamdulillah, today LPM Dompet Dhuafa is conducting Young Traveling activities where this is a series to commemorate 1 Muharram, to glorify orphans, we are here bringing 60 orphans from 9 institutions and foundations in Jabodetabek. For this activity we will visit two cities, namely Cirebon and Purwokerto, as for the activities, they are in addition to education on historical sites, as well as learning how to manage waste that will be in Purwokerto, “said Kamaludin as Head of LPM Dompet Dhuafa.
In addition, later the children will be divided into about 10 groups. Each group will be given a task or project that they must do after this event is over. Not only that, Dompet Dhuafa also provided compensation to orphans in Cirebon and Purwokerto for 30 children each. (Dompet Dhuafa/LPM)
Text and photo: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editor: Dedi Fadlil