Doing Something Useful During the Pandemic

#BersamaMelawanCovid19 – Some of the children in the urban area are enjoying their spare time by using gadgets or gathering with family at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. These are the things they should have done to protect them from the Coronavirus. However, the different condition happens in the rural area. The communities who live without electricity have their way to enjoy their spare time.

Rut (11 yo), a 5th grader in one of the schools in Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) Landak Program Area, has a unique way to spend her spare time during the pandemic. She collects her juniors to study together. She teaches them to read and count.

Rut makes a study group for them. They learn at 6-7 p.m every day.

“I am happy to teach them. I hope that they can grow as smart people. Even though they could not get learning material at school, I want them to still learn at home,” said Rut.

Rut also learns at home with her mom every day. She feels happy to contribute to other children. Her mother who is a teacher has inspired her. Her mother also does something useful for her students. She teaches her students by visiting them at home gradually. 

Rut excited to do more for her juniors. Her study groups are always full. She is always visited by 3-4 students every day.

“I teach them how to count, spell, and read the words every evening. At noon, their parents would bring them to the field,” said a child who wants to be a policewoman.

The technology and education facility are important during the pandemic. Not only for adults but also for children. However, amid a lack of facility, there is always an opportunity to do something useful for others, like what Rut has done.

Written by: Fenny Samosir, TP Coordinator Area Program Landak Wahana Visi Indonesia