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ACTNews, SUBANG
REGENCY – Opi Susilawati (27) has known struggle all too well since she was
little. At the age of three, her legs were paralyzed. She lived in Jakarta
once, but she then moved to her parents’ hometown in Subang. Sadly, she was
unable to continue her schooling in Subang after losing her documentation to
the floods in Jakarta.
“When the floods occurred,
our belongings were submerged, including my report cards and other documents. I
could not continue my education here in Subang. Besides, being wheelchair-bound
is also an obstacle,” said Opi when Global Zakat – ACT Subang visited her house
in Karanganyar Village of Subang Regency, Friday (1/21/2022).
Nevertheless, her
spirit to benefit other people never weakens. She decided to teach the Quran to
local children. Her family helped her turn their shed into a classroom for the
local children to study.
“My mother helped me
tidy up the room because more and more children attend the class. There was not
enough room, but I had no other choice but to teach here,” she said.
Previously, she
taught at a mosque near her house, but she does not want to burden her elderly mother
who has to take her to and from the mosque and carry her if she needs to get
off the wheelchair. Her mother now runs a small shop beside their house.
In spite of these
difficulties, Opi never wants to stop teaching. She even helps provide notebooks
and textbooks for her students who can’t afford them. “I don’t want them to
stop studying because of financial constraints,” she said.
To improve her
knowledge, she, too, needs to learn. Four years ago, she continued her study at
a special needs school. Some parties have supported her by providing
scholarship because of her dedication and achievements.
Global Zakat-ACT
also supports Opi through the National Movement for Indonesian Muslim Preachers’
Prosperity through the provision of financial aid to help her with her noble
endeavor. []
