Social Minister Motivates New Students, Emphasizing Future Hope at Jakarta People's School

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, visited new students at the DKI Jakarta People's School to provide direct motivation, encouraging them not to be discouraged about their future. The working visit, which took place on Saturday evening during the first weekend of the School Environment Introduction Period (MPLS), allowed the minister to hold an interactive dialogue regarding the adaptation process of students from underprivileged backgrounds. "Therefore, there is no need to be discouraged, no need to be humble, everything must be enthusiastic because later it will be guided by great teachers," he said, motivating hundreds of new students after dinner, as stated in Jakarta on Sunday. He also stated that every student of the People's School is valuable, being a creation of God, and each creation must have its own talent and advantages. "Every student of the People's School is valuable and is not differentiated," he asserted. During the occasion, he invited students who wished to speak to come forward. Calysta (12) recounted her first experience at school, saying, "First crying, second missing parents, third getting used to it," which was met with applause from her friends. Jessi, another student, shared her past desperation when she couldn't continue her education due to her family's financial situation; her father works as an online motorcycle taxi driver and her mother is a homemaker. However, thanks to the People's School, she was able to resume her studies. "Before coming here I prayed whether I still had a future worth living for the future or I stopped at this point. But when I prayed then I found the answer with this People's School," she said. She admitted that at the People's School, she began to rise again to regain her future. She also recounted feeling worried initially as a minority due to having different beliefs from her friends. "So when I first came here, I honestly met friends on the first day, they were very welcoming to me even though we could say we had different beliefs, but they were very embracing and kind," she said. She recalled that when her friends were woken up for tahajud prayers, she also got used to getting up and praying, which helped her cope with her longing for her family. Following this, Gus Ipul reiterated that there should be no bullying, insults towards tribes and religions, or physical and sexual violence at the People's School. "It is also not allowed to carry out acts of intolerance that do not want to respect anyone," he added. He invited the students to pray together. Additionally, he reviewed the dormitory and permanent building of the People's School. Currently, the results of outreach for new students at the DKI Jakarta People's School show 90 students at the high school level, 90 students at the junior high school level, and 27 students at the elementary school level. Source: VOI English