Twenty years ago, in order to address flooding in Jakarta, the provincial government proposed the Kali Angke River revitalization project. In collaboration with the government, Tzu Chi constructed the Tzu Chi Cengkareng Great Love Village. At that time, Tutin Rahayu, who lived by the Kali Angke River, was bewildered, but her husband Ali Mukmin firmly accepted the government's relocation.
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Tutin Rahayu never imagined that the quiet and remote place where she lived two decades ago, on the banks of the Kali Angke River, would provide a bright future for her children. While raising three children, Tutin Rahayu pursued her own dreams; she earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from a university in Bekasi, a city east of Jakarta. Even at the age of forty-six, Tutin Rahayu did not stop her quest for knowledge and continued her studies at the graduate level.
Initially Tutin Rahayu noticed many preschool-age children playing in the Great Love Village without parental supervision, some resting in the park, and so on. This situation deeply concerned her; she felt the need to take action. Coincidentally, the village government of the Cengkareng Great Love Village introduced a program for child and family education. Tutin Rahayu became involved; it was this twist of fate that sparked her idea to establish a daycare center.
Mother’s Love Daycare
As we all know, early childhood education is crucial, as it teaches children emotional intelligence, physical control, and social skills. Tutin Rahayu and other women from the community approached Sugianto Kusuma, Deputy CEO of Tzu Chi Indonesia, and applied to establish a daycare center within the Great Love Village.
"We met Sugianto Kusuma at Mangga Dua Mall, and he allowed us to use a space to set up the daycare center, after which we applied for the necessary permits," explained Tutin Rahayu. In 2011, they established the "Mother's Love Daycare," which currently has two classes with a total of forty-two students.
Pursue Knowledge
As a teacher, Tutin Rahayu had her own anxieties. She realized that she only had a high school diploma and felt she lacked the qualifications to educate children beyond basic care to ensure their health and safety. Therefore, she believed it was the perfect time to continue her education.
"For me, there's no one else who can make us smarter except ourselves. So, if I'm going to educate the children, I also need to improve my own abilities. If I don't have enough knowledge, I can't nurture the next generation effectively," she said.
As a mother, wife, daycare center operator, and a continuing student, Tutin Rahayu had to juggle multiple roles and work hard to successfully complete her studies. She started her university journey in 2018 and obtained her bachelor's degree in 2022.
Driven by her passion for child education, she is currently pursuing her master's degree and is in her second semester.
"So I have to maximize my potential," she said humbly. Like a continuously sharpening diamond, Tutin Rahayu serves as an example of lifelong learning for the younger generation of the Great Love Village.
"It feels like it was just yesterday when I moved into Great Love Village, but I can't believe it's been twenty years already. During this time, I've experienced many things alongside Tzu Chi. I never imagined my life would lead me to this point, with my child becoming a police officer and myself pursuing a graduate degree. It's all incredibly unimaginable. I can't help but wonder how different things would have been if I had continued living by the riverbank," Tutin Rahayu expressed with gratitude.
A Jing Si Aphorism says: “Do not underestimate yourself because everyone has unlimited potential.”
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Story by KHUSNUL KHOTIMAH
