On Monday afternoon, I felt anxious about the rather worrying cloudy weather. Rain is considered romantic by some people, but for me, who uses public transportation or online motorcycle taxis, rain is a challenge. I, along with the other volunteers, had scheduled a cooking session with the children at the Pingit Social Settlement (PSP) Yogyakarta, with seblak (made of noodles and crisp) as the main dish. Despite concerns about a shortage of cooking equipment and ingredients, we prayed that everything would go smoothly.

Upon arriving at the location, the children were very enthusiastic about participating in the cooking class. The class was held in the community hall for comfort. The children began with a short, heartfelt prayer, and the class went on longer than scheduled, with even children from other classes joining in. The volunteers teaching the class aimed to provide material different from the academic curriculum at school. Our material emphasized values such as “Survive and Sustain.” They hope this material will become a cherished memory for the children when they grow up.

Before the cooking session, the children were allowed to get creative decorating cakes, in the hope that some of them might become chefs or food entrepreneurs in the future. In class, they were also introduced to maps of Southeast Asian countries to broaden their knowledge and learn about life outside their region.

While cooking, there was a shortage of seasoning, and a young girl offered to buy the seasoning using her own money. Although the author felt touched and wanted to refuse her offer, the child insisted and ran to buy the seasoning. This brave and sincere act from the young child moved the author, reminding them that as we grow older, we often lose the qualities and spirit of childhood.

That evening’s cooking class offered many valuable lessons, and the author realized the importance of maintaining enthusiasm and generosity even as we grow up. With gratitude, the author concluded this experience, hoping that children can learn and find meaning in every process they go through.

Contributor: Theresia N.L, – Volunteer Pingit 2025