Event 1 Together We Care - McDonald's

Seems like it was only yesterday when Universal Foundation held its first fasting break event with the orphanage. Now a year has passed since that very first time. This year, we have two main Ramadan events. The first event was held in McDonald's Pondok Indah with a small group of 25 children from Majelis Ta'lim Darussalam, age 5 to 13. The reason why we wanted to take the children to break their fast at McDonald's was because most of the children haven't had their chance to have a visit to the fast food restaurant. We had an idea that it would be nice to take the children to eat in the restaurant and to feel the ambiance themselves. We were right. When we opened the event and asked the children whether they have been to McDonald's before, all of the answered "No, we haven't". Therefore, it was the very first time for them to actually eat in McDonald's. We were so happy to have been able to take them there.

A moment before the event started. On the right corner was Ibu Ita, the caretaker of the orphanage.

The various parts of the event, introduction, singing,

Mesza, telling a story to the children while waiting for the time for the fasting break. The story was about a monkey that tends to think only about the short term instead of the longer term. The moral of the story was about how we have to think about what will happen next when we do something. It's like a 'look before you leap'.

It was our happiness to see the children smiling. On this event, we were lucky to gain a support from Dettol - an antiseptic soap. We were given a support in terms of small package of Dettol for the children and also bigger package for the guests and the caretakers.

Marlow, being a host of the event. In this picture, we were trying to make interaction with the children as to introduce themselves one by one to us and also to the guests. Not just introducing their name but also to say what they want to be when they grow up. Most of the girls want to be a teacher and most of the boys want to be a soccer layer and police men.

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Closing the Road-Show

This is the update of our last event on the Road-Show. It took place on Cinagara, Sukabumi - West Java. The foundation was called "Panti Al-Khazanah". The event was held on June 21st 2009. There were 18 children under this foundation with the age range from 4 to 15 years old. At first (on the opening of the event), almost all of the children there were so shy to speak up. We felt that it was not an easy task to make a good interaction with them. But slowly the children were finally be able to make an interaction and open up the conversation with us. The closing of the event was filled with smile and laughter.

(the calming place of Al-Khazanah)

(the girls of the Al-Khazanah foundation)

(the symbolic of the donation)

(the gathering inside the mosque)

Second week of the Road-Show

Hi everyone, here's the latest update with the second activity of our Road-Show program. This time it was held on June 14th 2009 at a foster home (rumah singgah) called "Sanggar Akar". The foster home was located at Kalimaralng, North Jakarta. "Sanggar Akar" is a place of 300 very creative children and teenager. We were amazed by their creativity and their willingness to learn about anything new. They learn music, school subject, theatrical and acting skills, writing skills and so on. They even have their own magazine in which they seek for information by being their own reporter. It was such a happy feelings to see those teenagers who can actually lift up their spirit of learning and of course to make a living. Other than that, this foster home also provides the informal learning class for the surrounding society who don't need enough money to go to the formal school. Here are some of the activities we have done, those include drawing competition, music (jimbe) performance from the talented boys. The event was so full of the cheerful feelings, we will surely going back to "Sanggar Akar" to meet those talented and skillful children. They give us a very valuable lesson in which knowledge and learning can still continue if you have the willingness to do so.

(The three group winners of the drawing competition)

(The children when being ask to draw something with the theme of "Cleanliness and Healthiness)

(Jimbe performance)

Sharing Happiness

On June 7th, 2009, Universal Foundation had two social activities by visiting two orphanages. One was located in Bogor (Panti Bukit Karmel) and the other one was located in Bekasi (Panti Qonita). The main reason of having this activity is to help a company to run their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) program. One company, Reckitt Beckinser Indonesia (RBI) has appointed us (Universal Foundation) as an event organizer to distribute the donation and for the road show activities. We are given a main task as to distribute the products to be donated to those social organization (such as orphanage, foster house, mosque, church and others). As for the road show, we have chosen four places to be visited. Last week, we have visited two of the places.

We easily share our happiness with others while the others are in a hapiness state, but when it comes to sadness, do we easily share it with others too? Do we run away and avoid to share sadness with the others? We realize that there are a lot us who could just turn our back into those who are in the need and lock themselves from the outer world. Funny enough many find sharing sadness a way of being childish and asking for care and attention. unfortunate

- Panti Bukit Karmel (Bogor) -

On the minute we entered the hall where the children were gathered, all we can see were smiling face here and there an also the joy the children have. It was a very good start to open the road show because the children have been able to uplifted our spirit. We know that their home is their orphanage.

(a friend of ours - a doctor - giving a small talk for the children about living a healthy life)

(part of the activities - showing and teaching the children how to brush their teeth correctly)

(Putri, on of Universal Foundation members, giving a small class to the children of living a clean life)

(Boby, a 9 months-old baby boy, the star of the day. He was able to caught our attention and our heart)

(some of the kids from the orphanage)

(a collage picture of us and the children)

- Panti Qonita -

December 8th 2008 - Eid al-Adha "The Festival of Sacrifice"

On December 8th 2008, Universal Foundation has afford to do a sacrifice of one goat. The meat from the sacrifice was mostly donated to the poor.

The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

"Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121)

September 20th 2008 - Ramadhan Activity "Fasting Break at Al Multazam"

Fasting Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. During this one-month fasting period, Muslims are only allowed to eat a meal right after sunset (Iftar) and another light meal right before dawn (Sahur). On this holy month, it is also recommended for Muslims to perform a nightly prayer called At-Tarawih. Most Muslims do this prayer in a group in the Mosque. Most of the times, Muslims have more dinner invitations during Ramadan month than they have during the year. The poor and the needy are among the first to be invited to such dinners (Iftar). On September 20th 2008, Universal Foundation has been able to conduct an event of Ramadan dinner which was held on Al-Multazam Mosque.