Helping others never only benefits the taker, but it also honors the giver. A recent music performance by Rawinala Foundation students at the Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School (GMIS) is a case in point.

For the first time, visually impaired students from the foundation were invited to perform at the school's auditorium in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday. It did not take long until the hall, filled with thousands of GMIS students of all grades, their parents and teachers, was buzzing with claps and cheers as perfect-pitched 11-year-old Louis Bertrand and 17-year-old Pitera Ramanto delivered their lines.

(Read also: ASEAN student exchange scholarships to open up second batch in September)

Louis and Pitera performed alongside fellow Rawinala students—40-year-old Iwan on the guitar, 21-year-old Irfan on the keyboard, 27-year-old Antoniano on a second keyboard and 26-year-old Murtini on the drums. Despite their impairment, they smoothly showcased their talent through popular songs, including Jangan Menyerah (Don't Give Up) by D’Masiv, Ben by Michael Jackson and Bunda (Mother) by Melly Goeslaw. There was also a solo piano performance by Michael Anthony, an autistic 13-year-old who is able to play songs perfectly by ear despite visual and minor hearing impairment.

Rawinala Foundation student Michael Anthony delivers a solo on the piano at Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School on Wednesday.(JP/Masajeng Rahmiasri)

“When they sing, they are actually telling the story of their life,” Rawinala teacher Kristin Prasetyaningtyas told The Jakarta Post. “I hope both schools will be blessed and strengthened through this performance."

The first such performance in Rawinala’s 12-year long cooperation with GMIS, was part of the latter's implementation of CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) project, which is included in its International Baccalaureate diploma curriculum and compulsory for every 12^th-grader of GMIS.

(Read also: Teenage take on dealing with parents, generation gap)

“CAS is a service project to help instill or reinvigorate a feeling of support and understanding for those who are marginalized by society today,” said 12^th-grade student and committee member Joshua Chandanani. Prior to the event, the 12th grade students of GMIS had visited Rawinala in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, to volunteer and help with the students’ daily life. Joshua also said that they had decided to invite Rawinala students to perform after hearing about their singing skills.

“They're not as gifted as we are and yet they're able to perform much better than most of us. I’m thankful for the opportunity to see them up close,” said student Veenitha Balachandran after the show.

GMIS also collected Rp 54 million (US$4,119) in donations for Rawinala in the form of musical instruments and daily necessities. The 12^th-grade students will continue to volunteer in the foundation to fill their CAS record as well. (kes)