"This basic food aid is distributed to the guardians of students, who are directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the annual social program for the Student Council Management of Pekanbaru city's State High School I," the school's principal, Dr Hj. Wan Roswita M.Pd, noted in Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau Province, on Friday.
This activity was purely an idea from students to foster a sense of empathy towards others, she remarked. The money was collected from fundraising from parents, affluent people, or donors, so that they could share through the school.
The headmaster explained that the activity was scheduled to take place at least once a month. "Hopefully, this assistance would provide blessings and be a form of worship for all of us," she remarked.
We learn a lot from this pandemic, but we also hope that it would pass quickly, and we could commence normal activities again.
"For recipients, it does not mean that they are always at the bottom, but rest assured that one day, they will also be on top. Even if at this time there are some of us, who have not been able to give something, at least (we can give) a smile and that is also a form of (giving)," Roswita remarked.
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Deputy for Student Affairs at the Pekanbaru State High School I Ida Nila said that the food packages allocated per person comprised eggs, cooking oil, sugar, tea, and instant noodles, which came from fundraising donors, with a collection of Rp60 million (US$4,215).
"The initial target is to administer the vaccine to 200 recipients in stages and will follow immediately for another 17 recipients on account of the fact that Pekanbaru is still hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, so it continues to impose health protocols," she remarked.
Nila noted that this social activity targeted 10 recipients from local residents and school security staff members around Pekanbaru city's State High School I. As many as 30 residents came from the Suka Maju, Suma Tilang, and Suka Mulia villages which are located near the school.
In addition, recipients of the basic necessities were also janitors at the Pekanbaru State High School I, janitors who collected trash at the school, and several residents on the road, who were recorded by teachers, as well as newspaper sellers at the red light intersection by the school area.
Chairman of the Student Council of the Pekanbaru State High School I Muhammad Muhammad Itqon Al-wafa stated that this social activity arose from the Student Council's vision and mission to strengthen friendship and to get to know one another.
"We have been studying online for almost two years, and our brothers and sisters still do not know each other. Hence, this activity had to be conducted, of course, with the help of the school student team," he affirmed.
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Translator: Frislidia, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
