SUMBAWA, SIAR POST — When heavy rain pours down in Dusun Padak, Desa Lekong, Alas District, Sumbawa Regency, the dirt road connecting the residents’ settlements to the Darul Qur’an Ezzat Al Salimi Foundation turns into a muddy pit. This narrow and pothole-filled road is the only access for children to pursue religious education. Often, their small steps are halted because they fall on the slippery road, but their spirit never fades.
“If it rains, sometimes they fall. But there’s no other choice, they have to go through that road,” said Agustiana, the head of the Darul Qur’an Ezzat Al Salimi Foundation, with a resigned yet determined tone, on Monday (10/11/2025).
Since its establishment in 2017, this pesantren (Islamic boarding school) has become a haven for over a hundred santri (students), mostly orphans and children from underprivileged families from Alas, Hijrah, and Alas Barat. In this simple place, they learn the Quran, tafsir, hadith, fiqh, akidah, Arabic, and Islamic history, all free of charge.
“From the beginning until now, we have never charged a single penny. This pesantren is indeed for underprivileged children, so they can learn religion without burden,” Agustiana said.
The pesantren building stands on simple land, surrounded by trees and rice fields. From the outside, it doesn’t look grand, but inside, there is a big aspiration: to educate the younger generation with the light of religious knowledge. The funding source is partly from donors from Saudi Arabia, while some small assistance has been received from the Department of Religion.
However, behind this spirit, there is a daily struggle. The damaged road is the main obstacle. During the rainy season, vehicles can hardly pass through. Many parents eventually refuse to send their children to study, fearing they will slip or fall on the muddy road.
“Many want to enter this pesantren because it’s free, but because of the damaged road, many also end up not coming. It’s a pity for the children, they’re eager to learn,” Agustiana said softly.
One of the teachers, Rusmini, admitted that she often walks through the muddy road, carrying books and writing tools. She has to be careful not to slip, but for her, teaching is a form of worship and devotion.
“If it rains, it’s very muddy, it’s hard to pass through. But for the sake of the children, we still come. We hope someone will care, whether it’s the government or philanthropists, so this road can be fixed,” she said.
For the santri, this journey is not just a physical journey. It’s a path to knowledge and hope. They come with muddy sandals, carrying worn-out books, but their hearts are pure and their spirit is strong. Every afternoon, the sound of Quranic verses echoes from the small pesantren, loud, pure, and meaningful.
These voices pierce the silence of the village, as if reminding that even in a remote place, the light of knowledge remains lit.
Humanitarian programs like NTBCare have highlighted this condition. They consider pesantren like Darul Qur’an Ezzat Al Salimi as a real example of non-formal education that can change the future of underprivileged children in rural areas.
“The government must be present. This is not just about the road, but about the future of children who want to learn religion. Proper infrastructure is a form of respect for their spirit,” said Yuni Bourhany, a representative of NTBCare.
The hope of the people of Dusun Padak is simple: a decent road. A road that is easily accessible when going to study, a road that makes it easy for teachers to come and teach, a road that connects the santri to the paradise of knowledge.
“If the road is good, the children will be more enthusiastic. We parents will also be more at ease sending them,” said one of the parents.
And this road will become an alternative route for farmers who have land in the Foundation area.
At the end of this story, there might not be camera flashes or applause. Only small children walking on the pothole-filled road every day with pure hearts and big dreams. They walk towards the simple Islamic Boarding School , where knowledge, faith, and hope grow amidst limitations.
