"While we try to teach children all about life, children teach us what life is all about." - anonymous
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| Our Children |
This is my first time join Birthday in a Box (BIB) presented by KAMI foundation. BIB is a project to spread love to the less fortunate children by spending time with them
and celebrating their birthday every month for a full 12 months. It is impressing me because I just knew there is a community who are willing to care this lack of love society. Without hesitate, I whatsapp-ed the contact person immediately to join this group. The CP informed me to sign up to be a volunteer via website http://kamifoundation.com/projects/birthday-in-a-box/ . After signed up, they put me in a waiting list group with a lot of WL inside on the next day. Around about 2 weeks, they opened a vacancy for WL who are interest to join into the team. Fortunately, I held my phone when Harry (is volunteer who handles the volunteers contact) spread the news. So, I join BIB.
Well, let me share you my experience.
When we arrived Betesda Orphanage, the children were not around. They were on the way back from the Church. After about 15 minutes, the children arrived - they politely shake my hand to their forehead. Our volunteers share name tag to each child. It's easy us to call the children with their name instead of girl/boy/bro/sis/hey,etc.
We started the event with celebrating birthday. This month (November) is a special month. What's special? No children here birthday on this month. The other special is this event sponsor's daughter celebrated her birthday with these cheerful children. Happy Birthday, Sherlen:)
After celebrated birthday, we was having lunch together. The children was so happy eating the delicious meal.
After having lunch, we continued to the first session. Before I tell you more, let me introduce a girl first. Do you see a girl wear red dress lay on my thigh? She is the first child I interacted with. She is a tiny but cheerful girl. She questioned me what is her name and hide her name tag. I asked her to tell me the first alphabet of her name even though I never knew her name. She spelled it one by one. She is Sadari.
Come to first session - What am I want to be?
Everyone is beautiful in their own dream.
We divided all children into 5 groups. Every group has two volunteers whose encourage them to think and write down what am I want to be?
Her name is Nidar. She is last year student of junior high school. Her dream is to be a doctor. Nidar told me that she will study at SMK instead of SMA because she have to leave this orphanage after senior high school and then find a job. In Indonesia, for register majoring in medical at least must be graduated from SMA instead of SMK. She doesn't have any information about this. So, I told her to choose SMA for the next step and study hard to get scholarship for study in Universitas Indonesia or Universitas Gadjah Mada. Honestly, I'm not sure that she understand or not, she will do it or not. Maybe next step, we should help those child with information and direct them one step closer to their dream. I hope to see you be a doctor in the next 10 years.
I asked Osarao, what is your dream? He told me, I want to be a priest. Honestly, I was kinda shocked at that moment - What a wise dream! In my circle of people, I never heard who want to be a priest/ustad/monk. You're so pure, Osarao. I hope you would spread your kindness and love to everyone around you.
Well, Sadari again! She is the girl who laid on my thigh. Her dream is a to be a dancer. I asked her, why you want to be a dancer? She told me because she loves dancing and she danced a lot. I hope she will be a happy girl who is living by her hobby and be a great dancer.
Everyone wrote down their dream.
So, what is my dream?
I might tell you if 15 years ago, my dream was to be a doctor - 8 years ago, my dream was to be a tour guide - 4 years ago, my dream was to be a flight attendant. If you ask me now, I'll think a few seconds or minutes because I think I have forgot what is my dream. Then now with a lot of hesitate, I answer my dream is to be a pilot. Let's see what will happen next!
Next session is playing a game.
While playing game... a lot of happiness happened...
Last session is giving small gift to each child. The children received it happily and sang a song "Sayonara" to say goodbye with us.
After received the gift, it is the time to say goodbye. We took photo together.
Credit to: Reni (volunteer).
Before I tell more, I want you to imagine what will you expect to see in an orphanage? Skinny kids? Smelly place? Children is crying? or a broken community? If you think so, I think you need more attention then those children.
Well, let me share you my experience.
When we arrived Betesda Orphanage, the children were not around. They were on the way back from the Church. After about 15 minutes, the children arrived - they politely shake my hand to their forehead. Our volunteers share name tag to each child. It's easy us to call the children with their name instead of girl/boy/bro/sis/hey,etc.
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| Happy Birthday, Sherlen! |
We started the event with celebrating birthday. This month (November) is a special month. What's special? No children here birthday on this month. The other special is this event sponsor's daughter celebrated her birthday with these cheerful children. Happy Birthday, Sherlen:)
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| Nasi kuning with fried chicken, omelette, tempe, chili sauce and crackers. |
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| Add caption |
Come to first session - What am I want to be?
Everyone is beautiful in their own dream.
We divided all children into 5 groups. Every group has two volunteers whose encourage them to think and write down what am I want to be?
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| Nidar - one step closer |
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| Osarao - Wise dream |
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| Sadari - hobby and dream |
Everyone wrote down their dream.
So, what is my dream?
I might tell you if 15 years ago, my dream was to be a doctor - 8 years ago, my dream was to be a tour guide - 4 years ago, my dream was to be a flight attendant. If you ask me now, I'll think a few seconds or minutes because I think I have forgot what is my dream. Then now with a lot of hesitate, I answer my dream is to be a pilot. Let's see what will happen next!
Next session is playing a game. While playing game... a lot of happiness happened...
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| Juanda with his innocent smile |
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| Colin (volunteer) with Mawar (jeans dress), Wardin (red shirt) and Polis (yellow shirt) |
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| Jerry (volunteer) with Moalis (blue shirt), Firman (orange shirt) and Happy (red shirt) Add caption |
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| Tian (Volunteer) and Sesu (yellow shirt) |
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| Wisman (volunteer) with Kone |
After received the gift, it is the time to say goodbye. We took photo together.
From left to right: Nana, Susi, Zhen, Kristine (me), Susanti, Colin, Dessy, Widi, Tian, Jerry, Fangfang, Jia, Wisman and another one we shouldn't forget is Reni, our photographer of the day.
Lesson to learn:
One of the child (Sorry that I wasn't noticed his name) asked me, "I want to be a security. Could I?"
I replied "yes" but with uncertain smile because I didn't know what should I answer. Then Jerry (one of our volunteer) replied him "Sure, why not? If there is no security, who can ensure our safety?" Wow, Jerry's answer impressed me. Honestly, I just realized how poor am I. I always get high score in academic but actually poor mindset. Too bad. Fortunately, the boy's question and Jerry's answer awaken my mind - open my eyes.
I learned a lot...
I'm not teaching but I'm learning...
Thank you all of the children and Birthday in a Box team:)
Location:
Betesda Orphanage
Perum Alam Raya Blok D No9,10,11 Batam Center
Batam, Indonesia
Instagram:
@bdayboxbatam
https://www.instagram.com/bdayboxbatam/
