Tuesday (31/8) evening, Yudi’s (11) and Nanang’s (12) eyes look gleaming. They were both into the joy of being able to gather along with thousands of orphans and other underprivileged children in Yogyakarta at the iftar event to break fasting at Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP) UGM. The event was held thanks to the cooperation of Houses of Zakat Infak Sodhaqoh (RZIS), LPPM UGM, and the National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS).
Besides hanging out with other orphans, that evening Yudi and Nanang were also welcomed to have a box of rice and kolak (banana and sweet potato dessert), which they may not be able to enjoy every day. Their joy increased when listening to an amusing tale that was delivered by Kak Adin. Not only that, at the end of the show they had gifts from the organizers. The event was also broadcasted live by one private television station.
"We’re happy, sir. We’re able to hangout together, breaking our fasting together and there is a funny tale," said Yudi who is in fifth grade in elementary school of Nolobangsan Yogyakarta.
The thousand of orphans and underprivileged children are mostly students of elementary schools. Some of them are still in kindergarten and some in junior high schools. According to Taufikur-rahman, SE, MBA, Operational Director of RZIS UGM who is also an accounting lecturer in Faculty of Economics and Business UGM, the 1000 orphans came from 31 orphanages and some came from around the campus of UGM.
"Of the thousand of orphans and underprivileged children, 100 come from around the UGM campus. The rest comes from 31 orphanages," said Taufikur-rahman.
The event that raised the theme of the Beauty of Sharing Gift of Ramadan Blessings was also held in several other big cities, such as Jakarta, Medan, Padang, Pekanbaru, Batam, Samarinda, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Makassar.
Emmy Hamidiyah, BAZNAS Secretary General, said the purpose of the activity besides to spread the Ramadan blessings, is to foster brotherhood, to care, and to spread the positive energy of the beauty of sharing in congregational ties among the people of Indonesia as the largest Muslim populated country in the world. "Hopefully, it can spread the brotherhood and relationship among Muslims," Emmy said.
All this time, Emmy added, BAZNAS has developed several programs of care to people such as Indonesia Smart program, Healthy Indonesia, Indonesia Caring, Prosperous Indonesia and Takwa Indonesia. Previously. BAZNAS has held orphan camp for 350 orphans in Kota Baru Parahyangan and suhoor (sahur) together with the poor and the needy in Greater Jakarta.