ACTNews, SERANG - From the port in Karangantu, Serang, the Global Zakat-ACT team sailed to Tunda Island, Tirtayasa District, Serang, on Wednesday (10/28) morning. Along with the team were Masyarakat Relawan Indonesia (MRI) volunteers who were taking part in the distribution of the school kits to 126 elementary school students on the island.

It took two hours from the port to get to the island. The captain told us that, in the morning, the waves aren’t too high. In the afternoon, however, the journey to the island wouldn’t be easy, especially if the rain falls because a storm could happen and endanger the passengers. For this reason, the team decided to go to the island in the morning.

"There were 126 school kits, each containing notebooks, coloring pencils, school uniforms, bags, and shoes. The recipients were elementary school students on Tunda Island,” explained Riski Andriani from Global Zakat-ACT team.

"I’m glad to get new shoes and a new bag. I’ll use them later when I’m in grade Use them for grade 6 later," s6,” said Rahman, a 5th grader at SDN Pulo Tunda. He didn’t want to open his gift and chose to save it for next year.

This school is the only elementary school on the island, which is home to about 460 families. There is a middle school that shares the same building with the elementary school, but there’s no high school in the area.

Despite being part of Serang Regency, located only two-hour away from the port of Old Banten area, the public transport to the mainland is only available three times a week. It costs IDR 20,000 per trip.

The island also lacks proper medical facilities. With only one supporting health center, a midwife, and no pharmacy. In an urgent situation, the locals would have to go to the nearest hospital in Serang. Unfortunately, Tunda Island also doesn’t have a fast ambulance boat.

For this reason, Global Zakat-ACT is working to procure a fast ambulance boat. This effort will need support from generous Indonesian community. Hopefully, the boat can provide solutions for the TUnda Islanders in a medical emergency.

"If you want to give your zakat for humanitarian programs for Tunda Island, please do so by contacting ACT Banten directly,” said Sukma of ACT Banten Program Department, Wednesday (10/28). []