On a sunny Saturday of March 1st, 2008, a team of IkaFIF personnel held a charity visit to a village that about 60 km west from Jakarta.

Place that we are heading was a plain school in a village called kampong Suradita, a village at Cisauk Sub-district of Tangerang Regency.

A banner says ”Penyaluran Dana ZIS untuk Operasional SMP Terbuka Dewantara” (Distribution of ZIS Fund for Operational of Dewantara Open Junior Highschool), was shown in a modest school building that was stand beside a paddy field within the village.

This charity by Ikatan Karyawan FIF (IkaFIF – an employee organization of PT. Federal International Finance) had purpose to distribute first donation of Zakat (Alms), Infaq and Sadakoh of year 2008. Zakat was an obligation of every muslim individual who have excess possession. One of reason why it was obliged in Islam is so that the wealth granted by God could be equaly shared among people, so that those who have not could also be fortunate to have.

The school was located along side a paddy field that was far from highway. The narrow street condition made it imposible to reach the location by car, so we have to continue the journey by using motorcycles.

Within the place, we are accepted in the teacher’s meeting room by Mr.Hardy, as delegation from PKPU (Pos Keadilan Peduli Ummat), and Mr.Idham as the Principal of SMP Terbuka Dewantara.

From distance, the school condition that we visit looks as ordinary as most public school that we have meet. But then we are stunned for a moment by the condition inside the building.

We are accepted in the teacher’s meeting room. The room was filled only with table, chairs and little furniture. There were no comfort seats, nor shinny floor. There were only wodden chairs, worn out and almost broken. And the floor was only a plaster floor made from ordinary cement.

The schoolbook’s condition was also as concerning. There was only pile of books placed disorderly on the bookshelve. Books that was worn out and dusty.

Before occupying as principal, Mr. Idham was a former employee of the Tax Office. With Intention to help children who can afford propper school education he start this school. Later then he leaves his former job. Meanwhile we are quite concerned by Mr. Idham appearance with his shabby batik cloth. Education at this school is free education for indigent student. ”Free school doesn’t mean cheesy school”, so was always told by Mr. Idham while narrating the school.

There are plenty matter submitted by Mr. Idham. Aside from the school’s facility and instruments, he also point out the wellfare of the teachers, which is very far from prospher. Teachers at this school were teachers who accept salary from government of amount of Rp.300.000,00 per-months that was given by 3 monthly. There even teacher with salary of about Rp.50.000,00 - Rp.100.000,00 per month. ”With these small salary, how can I possible to push them to give more effort?” so he said. ”The quality of education is certainly can be improved, as long as the teacher wellfare is improved,” he continues.

We are silent for a while, since we are trully feel concerned when we hear Mr.Idham’s words. For us, teachers in this place were trully a herro without Honors.

Fifty thousand rupiah was an honors that is improper to accept by those teacher who actualy being the educator for the nation future candidates.

Enrollment process in this school was using Psycological Test (Psycotest) System. A psycotest institute assist this school by performing free psycotest for the student candidate. Students accepted in this school were those who must pass the test. This school does not accept students moving from other school, since it was affraid that those students were having problem with their former school. According to Mr. Idham, if this school accept student moving from another school, it is concerned that it will give negative impact to the former students. ”Moving school student were usually troubled student, therefore I didn’t accept any student that move from another school”, so was said by Mr. Idham.

Beside the enrollment system, what makes this school differ from other was the discipline applied for teachers to students for no smoking. According to Mr. Idham, ”if a student have already addicted to cigarrets, they will become easy to seduce by drugs. For that reason, student at this school are forbiden to smoke cigarrets.”

After we hear long explanation from Mr.Idham about the school’s facilities, we immediately hands the donation.

The donation of amount of Rp.25.000.000, 00 (twenty five millions rupiah) was delivered symbolically by Doni Prajudi as leader of ikaFIF and was accepted by Mr.Idham as representative of SMP Terbuka Dewantara.

With gratefull look, Mr.Idham had says, ”This contribution will be used to make well the school’s facility and instruments, especially to improve the teacher wellfare. We are grateful to Allah SWT for the kindness toward us by whole FIF’s employee as contributor from company for the first time, may Allah SWT give his reward. Thank you”.

Pray for FIF’s employee Muzakki by Mr. Asep, one of subtitute teacher of SMP Terbuka Dewantara (black clothe).
(Witari A. - IkaFIF Jepreters Coordinator & Accounting Dept)