Play2Enrich | Crossing oceans and moving mountains for orphans and senior citizens in West Java

Obstacles are never bigger than our capacity to overcome them.

An ocean away from his home in Lampung, the province on the southern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, Milvuks joined his fellow Avocadian scholars Andhika Iman, Aziz Syahrur, Tri Fajar, and Ikhza Pahlevi who took 9-hour journeys from Purwokerto, Central Java via motorcycle to reach Patokbeusi, Subang, West Java for Avocado DAO’s food distribution activity for the elderly and orphans in the area.

“This project is bigger than our long journeys. I was determined to make it to this event because I know these elderlies and children are living in deprived conditions. They are in a constant state of mentally and physically drained. It’s a real struggle out here, so if crossing deep waters and traveling for hours is what it takes to extend our help, then I’m more than delighted to provide assistance. They deserve our care and attention,” said Milvuks.

Elderlies and orphans are the most affected due to Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns in West Java because they have no other choice but to depend on the Indonesian government for subsidies.

“We’re witnessing how heavy the burden of this pandemic really is within our families and our neighbourhoods. Even people who used to have enough are being seriously impacted, so it means a lot to me personally that the Avocado DAO supported this project to honor and provide for the elderly and orphans because they truly need all the help and support they can get,” said Mudzakki, who provided food and opened his house to his fellow Avocadians so they could rest and then re-pack and assemble provisions a day before the event.

When battling poverty, self-preservation often takes a backseat while finding resources takes precedence. Instead of staying at home or in the shelter to minimize their risk of contracting Covid-19, elderlies either work as motorcycle taxi drivers or fast food delivery riders while children from the shelter sell vegetables at the traditional market so they can have enough money to buy food.

Under the weight of widespread job and income loss and economic insecurity, vulnerable members of society have been hit first and the hardest. Some of them, particularly the children, have been displaced before. They push themselves to work, even when it’s ill-advised, thinking it’s necessary to help the families and institutions accommodating them so they can contribute to their survival in the midst of the pandemic.

“Anything these days is difficult — getting here is difficult, finding work is difficult. It’s been hard, especially because I have a toddler and I can’t buy what she needs,” shared Imas, one of the beneficiaries of the project when asked to describe her experience during the pandemic. “Aside from selling snacks and drinks, I do laundry services for people who need it. But now, no one seems to be able to afford it, let alone give other people work because even they themselves are in difficult conditions,” she continued.

As a GameFi community, the Avocado DAO grew as gamers stayed home during community lockdowns. Thus, it is committed to supporting efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 through advocacies that help as many vulnerable communities as possible.

“What I love about the Avocado DAO is that we are truly a human community who just happened to work and socialize digitally. We care for our neighbors just as much as we care to help other scholars succeed,” said Ahmad Luthfi, AG scholar volunteer and activity organizer.

The food distribution aims to offer relief to elderlies and orphans so they would have nourishment to fall back on for a couple of days. Despite the distance and long travel hours, about 20 AG volunteer scholars from across Indonesia showed up in solidarity to honor the beneficiaries.

“The guild is more than a GameFi program. Outside of empowering members to master games so we could earn incomes, Avocado DAO gives us the chance to help some of the most vulnerable people around us. It’s a testament to the many great things possible when we work together,” added Ahmad Luthfi.

The Avocado DAO is strengthened with the commitment of thousands of Avocadian scholars working together to address real-life problems and local community challenges. It encourages scholars to think of new ways to collaborate and form initiatives to help improve local conditions.

“This feels like compassion in action. Using our platform, presence, and knowledge, we carry out what we do in the digital space to bring positive change to others in need. The distance that kept us apart and perhaps kept us from forming bonds in the real world is not an issue in the Metaverse, it becomes a solution,” said Andhika Marcello, AG Indonesian guild leader.

Sometimes, obstacles may seem greater than the possibilities of overcoming them, but It is the willingness to move, act, and make every possible effort that activates our inherent power to help and make a difference.

Join the Avocado DAO and let’s work together with a purpose to push past barriers and help make lives a little bit brighter for others.

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