Knitting Dreams Want to be like Princess Ariani

SLB students from Banyumas and Cilacap compete their skills in a competition at GOR Satria, Purwokerto.

ARSIP LILI SURYANI

Dzakira Aftani (11) before the competition stage at GOR Satria, Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, Tuesday (30/4/2024).

Feelings of emotion and gratitude poured out when the jury announced the name of Dzakira Aftani (11) as the winner of the singing competition in the elementary school category. Her teacher and parents smiled brightly with pride.

Through this achievement, Dzakira, who is visually impaired, was able to advance to the provincial level competition. This little girl from Patikraja, Banyumas, Central Java, is struggling to achieve her dream of wanting to be like Princess Ariani.

"Dzakira was born prematurely, at eight months old. She stayed in an incubator for 13 days, but her eyes were not covered, causing her retinal nerves to weaken," said Lili Suryani (42), Dzakira's mother, after a competition held at GOR Satria, Purwokerto, Banyumas, on Tuesday (30/4/2024).

Also read: The excitement of the National Special Olympics Week in Purwokerto

Around 100 special school students (SLB) in Banyumas Regency and Cilacap took part in the Special School Student Competency Competition at GOR Satria, Tuesday. People with hearing impairments, speech impairments, intellectual disabilities and quadriplegics are invited to demonstrate their skills in order to achieve independence.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

SLB students painted a lengger dancer in the FLS2N, LKSN, and O2SN competition held by the Extraordinary School Branch of Education Department Region X at GOR Satria, Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java on Tuesday (30/4/2024).

In the competition, Dzakira sang songs entitled "Dare to Dream" and "Aku Indonesia" from Naura Ayu. Energetic and dynamic, Dzakira sang and shook the whole room. "Dare we all dream, now is the time for you to live...", that's a piece of the lyrics of the song "Dare to Dream".

Lili, who works as a teacher in Notog with her husband Mochamad Yusuf, a farmer, is dedicated to supporting their youngest daughter in pursuing her dreams. This second child of two siblings attends school at SLB Kuncup Mas in Banyumas and now sits in fourth grade. Every day, her father faithfully takes Dzakira to school from Notog to Banyumas, which is 12.5 kilometers away, on a motorcycle.

"Her child is cheerful. I always encourage and advise her, don't be self-conscious, you can do it. She wants to be like Putri Ariani," said Lili who enrolled Dzakira in a vocal training course at Purwacaraka Music School in Purwokerto.

He has won a number of competitions. To train mentally, Dzakira often performs at wedding celebrations.

Also read: Cultivating Inclusive Schools in Cilacap through Books

Tri Ambar, Dzakira's accompanying teacher at SLB Kuncup Mas, said that Dzakira's talent had been visible since grade I. "Dzakira is a child who is almost never in a bad mood. He has a cheerful, chatty nature, especially as he has a talent for singing. "I am always proud and touched," said Ambar.

Dreaming

In addition to Dzakira, there are hundreds of other children who are also striving to pursue their dreams despite their limitations. Wiwi Kusmiyati, as the beauty pageant companion, said that she accompanied Cindy Anggiani (17), a deaf-mute student from the B Yakut school for the visually impaired, in the makeup competition.

"We usually do have difficulties communicating. But, specifically to mix or blend colors, it's somewhat difficult (to explain). Since elementary school, she had wanted to do makeup like her senior. Her dream is indeed to become a bridal make-up artist," said Wiwi.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

SLB students created a bouquet from counterfeit money in the FLS2N, LKSN, and O2SN competition for Special Schools Branch of Education Region X at the GOR Satria in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java on Tuesday (30/4/2024).

This competition has many benefits. Teachers can explore the potential of students which will later be directed towards their independence, and hopefully, the students can be accepted back into society and obtain job opportunities that match their competencies.

Tika Indaryanti, a mentor teacher for Ar Lounchy Cahya Putri (18), a student in grade XI at SLB Negeri Cilacap, said that Lounchy is deaf and has been preparing for more than a month for a competition on decorating flowers and fruits. This skill is taught at school as an extracurricular activity so that students can acquire skills for employment after graduation.

"For the preparation of this competition, we also brought in a coach from outside so that the students could acquire more skills. This could be a foundation for the children, at home they can also arrange flower bouquets to sell," stated Tika.

In the fruit and flower arranging competition group, several students were seen being serious and diligent in arranging and decorating gift parcels. In the painting and drawing group, the children were quite serious in making strokes with their brushes. There were those who painted mountain landscapes, as well as those who painted a lengger dancer and the iconic area of Kota Lama Banyumas.

"This competition has many benefits. Teachers can explore students' potential to be directed towards student independence, and hopefully, students can be accepted back into society and obtain job opportunities according to their competencies," said the Coordinator of the Special Needs Students' Competency Competition, Netti Lestari, in Purwokerto on Tuesday.

Netti, who is also the Head of SLB B Yakut in Purwokerto, stated that there were approximately 100 students from 11 schools for special needs who participated in the competition titled FLS2N, LKSN, and O2SN for schools in the X Region Education Office. The types of competitions included agility such as badminton, long jump, running, and table tennis. In addition, there were chess, cooking, makeup, painting, drawing, and crafting.

"The challenge is that some people do not listen, we have to be patient. The visually impaired, the hearing impaired, and others, have to be patient, have to be taught repeatedly, and practice repeatedly. For example, for general practice three times, we may do it six times," said Netti.

Dzakira, Cindy, and Lounchy were born special. The participation of their families, environment, and teachers enabled them to recognize their talents and skills. With that foundation, they learned independently and even dared to dream of becoming like Putri Ariani.