“We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.” ― Stevie Wonder

When the words “saxophone player, keyboardist, and talented singers” are used, most people will think of strong and healthily five-sense-equipped people who are really good at them. More, if all are combined and made into a beautiful harmony, we tend to be swept away by the rhythm played itself than the people behind it.

Friday, 26^th February 2016, XL Future Leaders Students collaborated with Elsafan Foundation for an extraordinary event; a musical performance and talk show for many of us to get more understanding on how normal is the people with disability. Here was for those who lost their sights.

This time we had the privilege to collaborate with these beautiful and gentle young kids with musical talent. The event was attended by more than 150 people and held at @america, Pacific Place, Jakarta. At first, it was meant to bring these talented young orphans from Elsafan Foundation to brilliantly do a musical performance, and to listen well how successful Dimas, Angky, and Pak Ritson and David have made their life so meaningful despite their lack of sights. But then once we were there witnessing them, the story was even beyond what we could have thought of.

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This initiative was made by XL Future Leaders mentees in order to encourage the ones who have disability to never give up achieving their dreams. We came up with an idea to bring Stevie Wonder as an inspiring figure for a tribute at this event. He is one of the legendary singers who can also play several music instruments beautifully, and he has been blind since he was a kid. However, he has never given up. He has been working really hard in pursuing his dreams to be a great singer with so many internationally recognized albums which have been sold for millions until today. He has proven that whatever condition that falls on us, esp. physically, should never stop us to achieve our dreams. We have to keep and maintain our hard work and determination to be success in life.

The event started with an opening remark from Hanna Azulay Hasfari, the Project Officer of EVE event coming from XLFL Batch 2. She shared her sincere thanking wishes for all the parties related to make this event finally running. Pak Ritson Manyoyo, the founder of Elsafan Foundation, came on stage after her. Pak Ritson highlighted that the blinds needed to be treated normally, shared no mercy but right support to make them have meaningful life like many other people. He also suggested us to stop giving money to the blinds going around the street. The right way was to channel the support to the foundations supporting the blinds with the right purposes, he said.

The welcoming speech was continued by Achmad Pradipta as the representative from PT. XL Axiata, he emphasized on how this collaboration can be maintained and brought to the next level. XLFL has made two times similar events so far and needed to be strengthened and managed well for more further impact.

After those empowering welcoming speeches, we continued it with two wonderful sessions: talk show and musical performance.

The talk show was so awesomely inspiring. We had three speakers sharing their experience and insights; Dimas Prasetyo Muharram (Founder of Kartunet), Angkie Yudistia (Sociopreneur and author of Perempuan Tuna Rungu Menembus Batas dan Setinggi Langit) and David Franky (Motivator), moderated by Derry Fahrizal Ulum from XL Future Leaders Batch 3. They shared their life experience as a normal-like person with obstacles and achievements. How they have managed themselves not to live by the mercy of others and have never asked for one.

They never like people with this kind of problem to feel weak and be weakened. Because it is just like so many of us, we have our own struggle even if we have a complete pair of fine eyes. It does not mean we are better. We are better than the others only if we know how to get out from our struggle to achieve our dreams. Life will always give us obstacles and problems. But with determination, optimism, willing to learn and do hard work, everything is possible, it is limitless. Everybody has equal chance to dig up their potential with or without complete five senses. Because we are extraordinary as we think we are.

After the talk show, the event then continued with musical performance, where children from Elsafan foundation performed several Stevie Wonder’s songs. Players on stage were Jun-Jun on keyboard, Aldin on saxophone, and Mutiara, Melanie and Dustin on vocals. Elsafan children performed three songs; “I Just Call To Say I Love You”, “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”, and “Diamonds”. Their musical talents amazed the audience and had them to get standing ovation.

XLFL students also joined the force to share their musical talent. On stage, we had George Raden (Cajon), Julian Leonard (Guitar 1), Reza Satriaji (Guitar 2), Nugra Kasih (Bass) and Adeline Putri (Vocal) performing one song, “Isn’t She Lovely”, continued with “Overjoyed” in collaboration with Elsafan children. In this occasion, Hanna Hasfari as the Project Officer also delivered sum of donation collected by the organizing committee to Elsafan Foundation to support their ongoing education.

The event ended wonderfully. It was not merely all the elements that involved and gave us joy and new family, but it was more than that. The lessons! We have come to know that all this time we have made mistakes in engaging with many of them. We are the ones who (they thought) are disabled in the way we act and face our life. We are equal to live and do our effort to the best we can to achieve our dreams; nothing will stop us for that unless we let it stop us. Just like this beautiful quote made by Stevie Wonder, We all have ability. The difference is how we use it. This is because Everyone Is Extraordinary. (Words By XLFL EVE Event Committee).