Anak Langit

This afternoon, me and Windi, Rezki, and Bu Ivon went to a community called Anak Langit. It is actually a kind of Foundation, founded by 12 people who are an artist, musician, doctor, translator, etc, 7 years ago. They gathered with one dream: making a free education for poor kids whose parents can' afford formal school. They have a concept that I really like: humanizing humans by creative education. I definitely love the touch. So far, we are stuck at the concept of formal education. That to learn, we must learn from a teacher who can't be criticized. That we have to go to school with text books and uniform, sit in the class with the books and listen to teachers. But, unlike any common concept, the Anak Langit Family treat the children like their family - calling them 'adik' and the children call them 'kakak' or 'mbah'. They train the children to do creative works, they make recycled-robots, paintings, music instruments from recycled stuffs, painting white shoes, and others. They often won competitions of recycling things, music concert, and also invitation to play in a art show. Or, they sell the creative works of their children to expand their family. There is even a boy who joined Silat workshop and now has become a national athlete. The children are also taught by proper Islam that they become so polite.

Going there changed my perspective of them. Before, what in my mind is a dirty place under a fly-over, uneducated children, and other bad-minds of mine. But, as soon as I reached the place, I was shocked. Located on a river bank, I thought that it would be dirty, smell bad, lots of rubbishes. Yet, I was totally mistaken. It was clean, green, and beautiful. I could even find no rubbish besides leaves on the ground. They also put the children artworks around the place - making it more beautiful. Started with just one tree, they now have uncountable trees around the area.

What makes it even more special is that the people. They were just going to do a shalat when we arrived there. So, we waited for around 20 minutes on a gazebo after greeted by Kak Edi, one of the founders. As we waited for them, I looked around the place. It somehow felt very peaceful. The sun at that time was very hot. But, while looking around, I didn't feel hot at all. Instead, under the shadows of the trees and people reciting prayers, what I felt is nothing but peace.I was amazed. Not just me, but also Rezki and Windi. Even when Kak Edi was explaining about Anak Langit, we felt like.. we were nothing compared to them. With all the arrogance we brought before we came in, we've been judging them ONLY based on treasure. We felt superior just because we have more money than them. We was ashamed.

I felt what I never feel before: the true spirit of Indonesians - family and togetherness. I could even feel that they are, strangers, my family.


Okay, here are some pics I took..