She Was And Is A Special Baby - Caroline

This is why I take Panti Asuhan Samuel kids close to heart. This is my story. Our fight. And it becomes a nation's fight against child abuse & sexual abuse.

“You are kind,

you are sweet,

you are beautiful,

you are important”

One late afternoon. Panti Asuhan Samuel. Gading Serpong. (Samuel’s Home).

We’ve spent few hours visiting this orphanage. In only these short few hours, I’ve witnessed an old Bibi (maid) trying her best to care for 10-15 babies & toddlers, a 5 y.o. girl fell down from 1 m wall; she then get yelled at by “ayah” (“father” : Samuel) ; he denied Clinic or doctor care for her ; the fact that there is no First Aid Kit box anywhere in the house ; horrible living condition for kids (dirty thin mattresses for bed and no bedsheets) ; piles of garbage everywhere including in the kitchen ; the appearance of rats in kitchen and washing area ; 1 dirty bathroom for everyone to share ; unkept yard filled with garbage ; cages of dogs cramped together with no food or water.

“You are kind,

you are sweet,

you are beautiful,

you are important”

These words I said to a 3 months old baby, laying wide awake on a dirty mattress next to a sleeping younger baby. No kids was around. The one and only caretaker was nowhere to be seen.

I put my hand on this baby’s tummy and whispered the words again to her. I believe she heard me. I wanted her to know that despite the condition and circumstances, she was somebody and her presence mattered.

So I repeated,

“You are important,

You will not be nobody”

The baby blinked.

“You are special.

You are important”

And I kept going.

“You will NOT be nobody.

You will be someone.

You will do fine.

You are important”

And she smiled. Big. The kind of smile one doesn’t forget.

11 days later, I heard a baby died in the Panti. Her name was Caroline.

12 days later, I leant it was that baby.

15 days later, Komnas PA (Child Protection Agency) evacuated the kids from Panti.

If Caroline hadn’t died, we probably wouldn’t be able to make people act.

We probably couldn’t have pushed the wall so hard, so urgently, to demand for justice. For the rest of the children to be put to safety.

She has died as a sacrifice for [hopefully] a better life for other Panti children.

Let’s not let her died in vain.

Let there be no other Carolines.

She was and is a special baby.

Little did I know, that late afternoon when I said to her that she was going to be someone important, she did listen.

And I know she is now listening, when we tell her we love her and we are grateful for what she’s done.

Rest in Peace, Caroline.

May God keep you warm in His embrace at last.