The 'Changing' Adventure

Assalamualaikum!

As mentioned I was part of a roadtrip, and this was it!

If you saw this poster (banner) anywhere in KL, then I was probably there :)

 Although all I could see were their smiles, their laughter, their joy,
Their past is ever still tear-jerking.
The poor, the orphan, the abused, the successful. I've often heard stories of under privileged children and their studies, never before had I met one, nor have I ever helped one. This is my first.

These kids, in this group primarily, are within the age of 12 - 17. Really bright, really smart, but lack of direction and proper guidance on how and where to go next. Some of them love to read, which most of us don't, but couldn't find a way to pursue their studies. Some of them are qualified for boarding schools, but are not financially supported by anyone, not to pay the school fees but to pay for the uniforms, proper bed sheets, more than one pair of shoes, instead they withdrew from boarding school, and chose to walk three miles, two trips, back and forth from school to home, home to school. If it were us, wouldn't we just skip school for the day? or change our route along the way, simply because school was too far away?

the girls

the boys

I couldn't aid them financially, hearing their stories from my parents made me curious, so I decided to give them what I could give. A helping hand. And this, is my story.

A first time for everything

It started at Kelantan, so my family and I went to Kelantan so I could meet the kids, I didn't say a word, only observed. They seemed normal, not the typical poor beggar look. I was being stereotypical. So our trip began. Took the train, a special coach sponsored by the man of KTMB (alhamdulillah). A fifteen our train ride; the first five hours were filled with ice breaking activities. Such as below :)

see how squished up, and crowded the space is? It's in a train. Haha

So we had to brief the kids on how to perform Solah in a moving vehicle, such as a train. How convenient. 

Anyways, in KL we went to visit some tourist attractions, the national zoo, the national science center, the Islamic museum, and Karangkraf office. Most of the trip was sponsored by the owner of the company itself, Karangkraf was one of them; which admittedly, moved me the most. The founder of Karangkraf, when told that these kids are orphans and under privileged, he himself came to welcome us, something he wouldn't be bothered to do with other visitors. He gave a talk, one which if I close my eyes, I would imagine myself listening to a talk at a mosque. In a good way, of course. A lot of motivational speech for the children.

Well, the zoo, the science center and Islamic museum was mostly to give the kids some experience with KL. Because you see, most of the kids, have never been to Kuala Lumpur--scratch that, never set foot out of their part of Kelantan. So you could see how all of this, is new to them.

this is me giving a talk. Never imagined I'd be in this position :O

In the picture below, furthest to the right, is the 'mother' of the children. Who had known them from the early days of the group. So she knows the characteristics of each and every one of the kids. On the last day of the journey, before departing back to Kelantan, she told us (the facilitators. plus, she's my aunt) how she saw a few of them changed within the three days. From quiet and timid, to outgoing and brave, from introvert and quiet, to really outspoken and all that. Hearing that, the tired part of me disappeared. Knowing that I managed to give them something they could carry with wherever they go, and will not disappear so long as their hearts stay strong. Truly, it was amazing. 

After it was all over, my brother and I told our parents everything (they were the director of the trip, but weren't with us all the time in the trip), and the interesting part was about the facilitators. There were six of us, three of them are my cousin, two more are from elsewhere. These cousins of mine, changed as well. Before this, we never talked, we do our own thing, despite living under the same roof for somethings a week every 'Eid, we rarely talk. Even if we do, there was a tad bit humility, and shyness to our conversation. Now, we make fun of each other, we crack jokes, we even went out to the mamak at midnight, on one of the nights of the program, after the kids went to bed :) By the way, my brother is the  photographer for this program, so thanks to him for all of the pictures :D

Just to show that when we change people, we change ourselves :)

from right: me, my two cousins, my kampung neighbor (not sure if I'm related to her), my aunt. The other cousin was MIA

If I were given another chance, I'd love to help these kids again some day. InsyaAllah
ps: I've gotten fat :\

"I wouldn't be surprised if, someday not less than five of these kids become successful like me."
"Saya tak terkejut, kalau satu hari nanti tak kurang dari lima kanak-kanak ni berjaya dalam hidup seperti saya." -Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub, founder of Kumpulan Karangkraf Sdn. Bhd
A rich, successful man, to a poor, hopeful youth. Like a king, to his heir

sincerely,
Hafidz Iddin