Living in an orphanage does not become a barrier for a number of children to study hard and achieve higher education. Their struggles and efforts culminate in success.
Merry Elizabeth (21) foster child of Rumah Kasih Orphanage, Lembang, West Java (far right back, black jacket) taking a photo with the orphanage children. Even though all her life she lived in an orphanage, it did not dampen Elizabeth's determination to go to school. This year he graduated from college and has been accepted to work in Singapore.
Orphanages are not only a place of refuge for children who do not have parents, but are also a bridge for children from poor families to receive an education. At orphanages, a number of children are determined and eager to study diligently in school, excel, take the highest education and finally get decent jobs.
Akhmad Mundolin (50), a resident of Patebon District, Kendal Regency, Central Java, has proven that with education he could change his life and get a steady job. Now, he is the highest leader in a regional bank.
It all started when he was willing to live separately from his family at the Sutejo Muhammadiyah Orphanage in Kendal, Central Java. “My mother and older siblings didn’t mind if I lived in an orphanage. The refusal came from my uncle, who was worried that if I stayed in the orphanage, my mother would be considered unable to take care of her children," he said on Friday (28/10/2022).
Mundolin started living in an orphanage after graduating from elementary school. As soon as he entered SMP Negeri 1 state junior high school Patebon, every time he wanted to take a semester exam, class promotion exam or graduation exam, he had to go to the principal to ask for dispensation not to pay school fees.
Even though he always had to ask for a letter of dispensation, Mundolin did not feel inferior. On the contrary, he was determined to study well in order to improve the fate of his family.
After graduating from junior high school, Mundolin continued his education at SMA Muhammadiyah Weleri senior high school in Kendal. Because the orphanage was quite far from his school, he was entrusted to another orphanage near the school.
Starting from the postal officer
After graduating from high school, Mundolin was forced to leave the orphanage, which could help pay for his education up to high school. Realizing that he did not have many skills, Mundolin decided to take a one-year computer course to get a certificate.
He then applied for a job at a regional bank in his area, namely BPR BKK Kendal. “My application was accepted. I immediately worked as a postal officer serving customers in villages,” he said.
While working, Mundolin continued his education at the Faculty of Economics, University of 17 August 1945, Semarang, East Java. After graduating with an S-1 (undergraduate) degree, he was promoted to the position of section head at BPR BKK Kendal. His family's economic condition began to improve since then.
His never-ending determination to learn pushed him to continue his postgraduate education at Stikubank University in Semarang. The provision of education brought Mundolin to the highest position where he worked.
Since 2007, he has been appointed as president director of BPR BKK Kendal. “I was able to get to where I am now because at the orphanage I learned to strengthen my mentality, discipline and independence,” said Mundolin.
Now, Mundolin does not want to be a “bean which forgets its skin.” He helps children at an orphanage in Kendal who have difficulty continuing their education by finding scholarships.
ARSIP PRIBADI
Akhmad Mundolin (on the pulpit) while doing activities at an orphanage in Kendal, Central Java, some time ago.
Building hope
The spirit of perseverance is also shown by Merry Elizabeth (21), a foster child of the Rumah Kasih Orphanage in Lembang, West Java. Living in an orphanage all her life did not dampen Elizabeth's determination to be educated up to university level.
Until now, Elizabeth doesn’t know who her parents are. The only information she has is that her mother gave her up to Rumah Kasih Orphanage 21 years ago when she was just a three-day-old baby.
“My mother was said to be Javanese and my father was of Chinese descent. That's the only information I know. Even though my heart hurts sometimes, I finally learned to accept the situation,” she said.
Even though my heart hurts sometimes, I finally learned to accept the situation.
From childhood, Elizabeth lived in the Rumah Kasih Orphanage until she studied at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Pasundan University in Bandung, West Java. While studying, she worked as an administrator at the clinic of the National Police Staff College (Sespim) in Lembang and also studied French.
In just 3.5 years, Elizabeth successfully passed her exams and graduated in June 2022. A few months ago, during a visit from a Singaporean prayer community to the orphanage, Elizabeth was offered to work in Singapore. Without hesitation, she agreed.
Becoming a proof
In South Lampung regency, Lampung province, Nuraini (21), who was born to a poor family in the remote Merbau Mataram village, Merbau Mataram district, realized how difficult it was to get an education.
Let alone for school, money for daily food was difficult. “I wanted to study at university and make my parents proud. That desire made me choose to live in this orphanage,” said Nuraini at the Pelita Harapan Bangsa Orphanage on Friday.
Nuraini then studied hard until she graduated high school and received a scholarship to study at the D-3 department of dental engineering at the Tanjung Karang Health Polytechnic in Bandar Lampung. “I am happy because I can prove to my parents that I can go to university. I also want to be an example for the younger siblings in this orphanage so that they can continue to be enthusiastic about learning,” she said.
Mundolin, Elizabeth and Nuraini are examples of children from orphanages who were willing to fight hard to get a better education and change their lives. They proved that orphanages can be a solution for families who cannot afford to support their children.
"A number of alumni of our foster children have become rectors at the University of Muhammadiyah in Bengkulu, some have become district heads in Wonosobo Regency and some have become successful entrepreneurs," said Heru Suroso, head of Division I of the Children's Social Welfare Institution at the Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah Putra Orphanage. (VINA OKTAVIA/REGINA RUKMORINI)
