From the Streets of Jakarta to a School Bench in Sumedang, Fikri Heads to the People's School

The Sumedang Regency Government has successfully returned M Fikri Ibrahim, aged 6, to his home area in Sukaraja Village, Cibugel District. Previously, he was in Jakarta with his grandmother. The child spent his days collecting plastics and rubbish to make ends meet. Fikri caught the attention of police authorities. The Sumedang Regency Government then brought him back to his hometown. On Monday (30/3), Fikri began school at the Sumedang People’s School. He was directly escorted by Sumedang Regent H Dony Ahmad Munir. “Every incident surely has its wisdom. From this event, we all learn that the state must be present. Today, we together witness that wisdom,” said Regent Dony. He expressed appreciation to various parties who have assisted, from the police ranks in Jakarta and Sumedang, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Indonesian Red Cross, to local government apparatus that quickly provided attention to Fikri and his family’s condition. The handling carried out was thorough. The Sumedang Regency Government, along with the Sumedang Police Resort and various related agencies, moved in an integrated and comprehensive manner. This included providing basic needs assistance, managing population administration, to guaranteeing access to health services such as BPJS. Not only that, assistance for renovating uninhabitable houses (rutilahu) was also provided through collaboration between the local government, police, and the Indonesian Red Cross. The mother also received business capital assistance to strengthen the family economy. “Most importantly, Fikri’s future must be ensured. Today we escort him to the People’s School, an education programme initiated by the central government so that children from underprivileged families still receive decent and free education,” he explained. A bright child Sumedang Police Chief AKB Sandityo stated that Fikri is a child with high concern for his family. He started scavenging on his own initiative to help his grandmother. “Fikri is a smart child. He has never received education before, but we have started teaching him basics like recognising colours. His development is quite good,” he revealed. In addition to Fikri, his younger sibling Naufal also received attention by being enrolled in early childhood education to fulfil both their educational rights from an early age.