One by one, they began to appear. Some were dressed in sportswear to office shirts. Half an hour later, the area surrounded by skyscrapers in the center of the city became crowded.
In the middle of the parking lot east of Senayan, those who are members of the 'Play Community' began to carry out their activities. Yes, after unwinding from the hectic schedule, email notifications and deadlines that await, who would have thought that there would still be time to just 'play'.
Not common games, but games that we used to play in the alley or school yard such as rubber jumping, bentengan and hide and seek.
One of those who came was Raden Adi. The man, who works for a private company, came from Cipete just to join the game.
"You have to be able to fit it in. Because I'm already overworked. I also want to play rubber. All this can release stress. The sensation is exciting, and I get to meet new friends. Here, I can let out my emotions and express myself," Adi said.
Not long after, Adi's other colleagues began to spread strands of colorful rubber bands knotted lengthwise to play rubber jumping. One by one, they took a step and "Eaaa... eaaaaa...," came the cheers of encouragement as the players began to jump over the rope one by one.
With Komunitas Bermain, these childhood games not only come back to life, but also become a space for reflection, connection, and a new breath for those who are used to spending weekends with important agendas.
"I want to remember my childhood. Also, because the game involves a lot of running, it's like a real sport," said Rani Tri, 30, from North Jakarta.
In addition to rubber, they also played bentengan, monopoly, snake dragon and mountain climbing. Some studies have shown that playing can reduce stress levels.
From idle to nostalgic
It all started on August 4, 2024, on a lazy afternoon at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK). Akiko Akira, 30, founder of Komunitas Bermain, along with three friends: Iqbal, Moyi, and Ezy, wanted to unwind after a grueling work week by playing rubber jumping.
Unexpectedly, some pedestrians stopped, smiled, and asked: "Can I join?"
This spontaneous activity of four people then developed into a community with more than 6000 members in Jabodetabek, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya. The members are diverse: students, office workers, entrepreneurs, to those who are already parents. There are no special requirements: just show up and be ready to play.
"Because nostalgia affects our mental state. Many want to relive the nostalgic moments of old games and want to re-experience playing with friends with this game," Akiko explains.
No fees, no membership cards. Just bring your own drinking water to reduce waste, wear comfortable clothes, and most importantly: the intention to have fun.
"There are doctors, judges in Jakarta courts. Startup founders in the construction sector, content influencers, political officials. They are here playing by abandoning their respective professions," he said.
Between meetings and busy schedules, maybe what we need is no longer a new café or golf course, but a space to be ourselves: to laugh, run, fall, and get up, just like childhood.
Dian Amalia, Kelsie Jordan, and Roman Wibowo contributed to this article.
