Zizi’s Golden Voice Inspiration: Find Your Talent and Develop Your Work Wholeheartedly

Makassar (October 11^th, 2023) – Among many participants and delegations on ASEAN High-Level Forum (AHLF) event in Makassar City, there are many touching stories about a girl.

Zizi – that’s her nickname. She is a 9^th grader teenager who enchants the guests of AHLF in Gala Dinner and Art Performance in Fort Rotterdam with her golden voice. She sings three songs, which are Lyodra’s Sang Dewi, Adelle’s Easy on Me and Queen’s You Take My Breath Away.

“I've learned to sing since I was 5 years old, and to play piano in the last 3 years with great effort because everything is limited, not only at school because I was in a special school, but also learning music,” the girl named Allafta Hirzi Sodiq says.

However, Zizi is quite lucky to get enormous support from her parents, especially her mother who becomes her home-schooling teacher at home.  Her mom keeps trying so that Zizi can go to school at a special kindergarten school and an elementary school in South Jakarta.

“The distance from the school to my house is quite far. At that time, Inclusive Kindergarten and Elementary Schools only existed in South Jakarta, and we go back home to Cibubur. It requires effort,” Zizi’s mother says.

When she appeared at AHLF event in Makassar, Zizi admitted that she felt glad to be able to entertain the participants from 13 delegations consisting of 9 ASEAN countries, 1 observer country that is Timor Leste, and 3 ASEAN partner countries that are United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

“There are feelings of happiness and pride to be able to entertain. There’s also a hope for people like us, persons with a visual disability, to have better fortune, be independent, keep on creating works, and be given equal opportunities,” she says full of hope.

You will get what you’re fighting for. Zizi has faced various obstacles, but the result is sweet. She has a series of achievement that makes her parents proud and encourage persons with disabilities.

“My friends, you have to look for your talent. When you find it, develop it. Believe me, works made with all your heart produce the best results, even though you can't physically see it, your heart can feel the extraordinary beauty," Zizi says.