On August 26, 2023, at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Tzu Chi Cengkareng Great Love Village. Heru Budi Hartono, Acting Governor of Jakarta (second from the right), said that the story of Tutin Rahayu (fourth from the left) and her eldest son Daqnas (third from the left) was truly inspiring. (Photo by Arimami Suryo A.)

In a previous report, we briefly mentioned the impact of education in the Great Love Village in Jakarta, Indonesia on Daqnas, one of the students at its school. Now let us delve deeper into his growth and transformation.

Daqnas's parents, Tutin Rahayu and Ali Mukmin, successfully raised three outstanding children. Six years ago, their eldest son, Daqnas, joined the police force and is now a member of the security team for the Deputy Chief of the Jakarta Police Department. Tutin Rahayu said: "Without Tzu Chi, I'm not sure if Daqnas could have achieved what he has today."

The environment in the Great Love Village is very conducive to growth, with well-equipped schools that provide comprehensive support for children's development. Tutin Rahayu explained: "We used to live in a house by the river, not on stilts over the water, just a regular house on dry land. However, living there could not provide a conducive environment for our children's growth.  Educational facilities were lacking, and society was complicated, with frequent thefts and many residents struggling with alcoholism. It's a world apart from the environment in the Great Love Village."

Daqnas, who grew up in the Tzu Chi Cengkareng Great Love Village, is now a member of the security team for the Deputy Chief of the Jakarta Police Department. (Photo provided by Tutin Rahayu; 2023/08/23)

Daqnas completed his elementary and junior high school education at the Great Love School. He showed a remarkable talent in sports, particularly running. Under the guidance and recommendation of Ahmad, the physical education teacher at the school, Daqnas continued his high school education at Sekolah Khusus Olahragawan Ragunan. He excelled academically there. He frequently represented Jakarta Province in national competitions and achieved impressive results in the 400-meter sprint within three years.

Tutin Rahayu is deeply grateful for her son's achievements and said with deep sincerity: "Thanks to Allah and thanks to the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation, the guidance of the teachers, and the help of everyone."

After completing his police training, Daqnas initially served for six months at the Jakarta Police Department. Due to his excellent performance, he was promoted to become a member of the Deputy Chief's security team.

A Jing Si Aphorism says: “The responsibility of a teacher is solely to impart knowledge; the journey of practical application must be undertaken by oneself.”

Daqnas has achieved his current success through the combination of a healthy living environment, excellent guidance from dedicated teachers, and his own hard work and determination.

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STORY BY KHUSNUL KHOTIMAH