Jakarta (ANTARA) - At the age of 74, Ibu Welas can no longer sell\nvegetables door-to-door as she once did, but one thing she still holds\ndear is hope: the future of her grandson, Julio.<\/p>\n
Julio has not had an easy life. Since the age of one, he has been\nwithout a father, who died from a rat virus disease after cleaning a\ndrain. Since then, Julio has been raised by his grandmother in Kampung\nKedung Tungkul, Mojosongo, Jebres, Surakarta, amid the family\u2019s economic\nhardships.<\/p>\n
His education journey was interrupted. After attending school up to\nthird grade of primary school, Julio chose to stop. His days were spent\nmore outside the home, socialising freely, and even getting involved in\ndelinquent behaviour, such as throwing stones and carrying sharp weapons\nwith his friends.<\/p>\n
This situation worried his grandmother. Despite all the limitations,\nshe tried to find a way for her grandson to return to education.\nEventually, Julio was enrolled in Sekolah Rakyat, a free boarding school\ninitiated by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for children from\nextremely poor families.<\/p>\n
Changes began to appear. Julio, who was once known to be difficult to\nmanage, now shows a much calmer attitude. He has returned to enjoying\nthe learning process and even shows a warmer emotional closeness with\nhis grandmother.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy (that Julio is at Sekolah Rakyat) because he can hug,\nembrace, and kiss me. Julio said, \u2018Grandma, I\u2019m happy; at home, I\u2019m\noften scolded. At school, I\u2019m never scolded,\u2019\u201d said Welas, quoting\nJulio.<\/p>\n
For Ibu Welas, Sekolah Rakyat is not just a place to learn, but also\na safe space for her grandson to grow. Moreover, the absence of daily\ncosts is a great relief. Previously, Julio often asked for Rp15,000 to\nRp20,000 every day, which was a burden on the family.<\/p>\n
Now, hope is growing again. Ibu Welas does not ask for much. She only\nwants Julio to be a good child and able to live a decent life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want him to be smart and my grandson to be a good person. Not\nneglected. I\u2019m old. Whenever I\u2019m called by the Almighty, please take\ncare of my grandson Julio. Be good there. Become a good person,\u201d the\ngrandmother hoped softly.<\/p>\n
Amid limitations and advancing age, she continues to pray that\nprayer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Mr Prabowo. My grandson can go to school at Sekolah\nRakyat. Thank you very much. May my grandson become a person with a good\nlife,\u201d said Welas.<\/p>\n
For Julio and his grandmother, Sekolah Rakyat is not just a place of\nlearning, but a turning point that saves the direction of the grandson\u2019s\nlife.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/peoples-school-saves-orphaned-child-who-dropped-out-and-had-a-penchant-for-brawling-1775987454", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }