Jamri, the photographer

Now I am staying in the Alhidayah Blang Teu children home in Blang mangat sub-district. I was born in 1993 and I am already a first year student of the Blang Teu Junior High School. I am the 7th of 9 children in the family. None in my family has high education, my big brother was graduated from pesantren ( Islamic boarding school) only and my kakak (older sibling) has finished Junior High School. My father's name is M. Yusuf (53 years old) my mother's name is Asma (44 years old). My parents occupations are farmers only. Our address is at Reungkang village in Samudra District.

My village is not far from the Len pipa Mobil Oil road and close to the Tanjung mesjid market. Back then, during the conflict, I often went to accompany my father selling vegetables in that market. One thing I still remember to this moment is when TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces) was enraged, all of our merchandise was thrashed all over the place so that we could not sell and then went home. I care about my father very much since that day not only because he was shouted at but also because he was suffered a loss.

My story of why I have to stay in a children home starts with my school being so far away from home. It is not possible for me to go there by foot. But there is no public transportations in the village, the only way is to take RBT (minibus), and the cost is very expensive. Thinking about this matter Father took me to stay in the Blang teu children home and it is not too far from school. When Father talked about it, I immediately agreed, because here there is also a Qur'an reading lesson just like in pesantren. I am happy because I can learn a lot here and I can also have many friends and my needs here such as food, shower supplies and bed sets to sleep are provided quite sufficiently. What makes me also comfortable here is that I don't have to walk far if going to school.

Sometimes I am sad because I have to part with parents and family, especially during stormy winds and heavy rain or even the earthquake, when my wish of being together with my parents is so great. Also at home I would not be tired from washing my clothes but now in the children home we really have to be independent, wash our own clothes all must be done on our own.

I have an older brother whom I love very much but now he is sick, he used to work in Banda Aceh, but due to the sickness he has gone back to the village. Actually he has been brought to a hospital but according to the doctor the illness could not be identified. His illness is very strange his face is swollen, black and his eyes are red. Now he receives treatments from a dukun (a traditional medicine man/woman) and according to the dukun my big brother is under the spell of black magic sent by his co-worker. I am very sad since until now my older brother has not been healed yet. Usually if he is not sick when he visits the village I would definitely ride around with him on a motorcycle.

Now I really hope that my big brother recovers, and I also hope someday I can afford to buy a motorcycle. I am also very happy if in the children home I could be close and favored by Ustadz. I really like soccer, and my favorite school lesson is Akidah akhlak because it guides us to have good behaviour and also there are many stories about the Prophet. My favorite teacher is also the teacher of Akidah ahklak lesson since he is a good person and not easily irritable. Now he is our classroom teacher. I really like piety that my future goal is to be an Ustadz, so that in my family there is a pious devotee, and i will be paying back my parents' parental deeds.

The influence of this programme on me is very strong. For example, during my participation in it I can take photographs, I have also played games again just like in my childhood. I am also more confident, I have many friends, and now I know a lot about things I didn't know before, for example I know about children's rights. When I saw a mother beat up her child for playing, I was reminded child's rights and that mother has committed a violation and that she had done violence to her child.

A Child's Eye

Khalil Jamri Wahidah Nurlalia Zulkifli

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