Love Letters and Wills: When Unspoken Love Finds Its Way

In a simple room, one hundred small eyes were filled with tears. These children, orphans and underprivileged, were selected to attend the 2025 “Initiative Young Leader” Pesantren Kilat, a special program organized by Human Initiative and Paragon Corp. But among all the motivational sessions and leadership lessons, there was one moment that changed everything: when the children wrote love letters to their mothers, and the mothers responded with their wills.

When Hidden Words Finally Come to Light

One mother, with trembling hands, held a piece of paper her child had just given her. The letter contained expressions of love that perhaps had never been spoken over the years.

“Mom, I’m sorry if I’ve been naughty all this time. I love you. I know it’s been hard for you to take care of me, but I often don’t know how to help you. I’m often too shy to say it, Mom…”

The handwriting was still unsteady.

The mother’s tears fell.

“All this time, my child never expressed their feelings like this,” she whispered. “This has been a valuable lesson for me to be a better mother.”

On the other side, a child opened a will from their mother—a message that they might only fully understand when they are older.

“Child, if one day I am no longer here, remember that I will always be proud of you. Hold on to your prayers and patience, my dear. My only wish is that we can be together again in Heaven, insya Allah, with your father.”

Love That Was Never Timely, But Always Heartfelt

Kang Purwa, the trainer who led this session, strengthened them.

“Sometimes, we wait for the perfect moment to express our love. But the best moment is as soon as possible—when we still have the chance.”

In a fast-paced world where parents are busy working and children are immersed in their own worlds, communication is often neglected. This activity served as a reminder that love needs to be expressed, not just assumed.

Initiative Young Leader 2025: Nurturing Empathetic Leaders

This Pesantren Kilat was not just about leadership training, but also about care and the courage to express love. A true leader is not only good at leading others but is also able to lead their own heart—being honest about their feelings, brave enough to apologize, and bold enough to express love.

That day, one hundred children and their mothers left with hugs, tears, and a promise to communicate more often from the heart. Because, in truth, leadership starts at home, where love is first taught.

Thank you, Dear Initiators, let’s continue to join this movement of kindness by visiting solusipeduli.org.

#StrengtheningEachOther
#StepsOfKindness