Panji Aziz Pratama, From Books to Scholarships
During his second semester break in early 2013, Panji Aziz Pratama, who was still in his first year in the department of social welfare, Padjadjaran University, Bandung, went home to Serang. Instead of enjoying his holiday, Panji was upset because at that time there was a flood that hit Lebak and Serang regencies.
Like others, he also volunteered to collect and distribute aid in the form of food and clothing. However, when he visited the disaster area in Sukamaju neighborhood, Citasuk village, Padarincang district, Lebak regency, he saw children without anything to do because the school was flooded. Their books were damaged and had been washed away.
Panji wanted to do something to lift their mood. Panji encouraged his friends to donate reading books and notebooks to the children. Panji, who during high school was president of All Student Councils in Banten, contacted his juniors at the Banten Student Councils Forum. Panji also contacted Banten Muda Community to join the movement. The invitation got a positive response and nearly 100 books were collected.
Panji then lobbied the village head to use a room as a mini library, complete with carpet and cabinets. The village head provided a room in the local madrasah, which actually had only three rooms. Another room was used for students in grades one to three and one for students in grades four to six. Although it was only a mini library, a modest inauguration was organized on Feb. 10, 2013.
"I was very excited when the mini library was realized. I helped cut a paper ribbon along with the village head. It was very memorable for me even though in the following years I also inaugurate six libraries at once," said Panji, some time ago. He himself was amazed because from the idea to the realization it only took two months.
Panji\'s friends proposed the name of the library, Istana Belajar Anak Banten (Isbanban) or a palace for Banten students to study. Besides reading, children were also taught by Panji and his friends. However, Panji only managed the library for a year. Next, the local community and youth manage the library. "Indeed, the agreement was [for me] to manage the library only for one year. After which it was to be handed over to the community and residents to manage it," Panji said.
After handing over one library, Panji instead managed more libraries. In 2014, there were six libraries established, namely in Cilegon, Tangerang regency, Serang City, Serang, Lebak, Pandeglang and Tangerang. All the libraries were established by volunteers consisting of high school students and students from a number of universities.
According to Panji, in recruiting the volunteers, in the first three months what is observed is the performance and seriousness of the candidates. While in the next three semesters, the observation is on issues related to the task of volunteering.
"We open online registration every January. In the first year, the number of applicants was around 100 people. In the second year, it rose to 200s and last year it increased again to reach 470 people. We are happy because it means that many young people in Banten are interested and caring. Unfortunately, that number dropped after the first three months," said Panji.
The volunteers come from all regions in Banten. Of all volunteers, 70 percent were university students. After a year those volunteers were challenged to establish a library within three months.
"At that time, from zero capital, they could establish a library in less
than three months. So, the administrators in each library were the high school students and university students closest to the region. They are not paid because they are volunteers," said Panji.
Not satisfied with just making a library, Panji and his colleagues also began teaching, giving knowledge to elementary school children. "Even the first library in Sukamaju village also serves as a preschool and kindergarten," he said.
Scholarship fund-raising
In addition, in 2018 Panji also began raising funds to provide scholarships for grade VI elementary school students who continued their education to junior high school.
Each student received a scholarship of Rp 1.5 million. In total, 21 children received scholarships from the collected funds of Rp 44 million.
"There may not be a lot of rupiah for each child, but for many people the amount is very large. After all, even though the school is free, the students still have to pay a kind of tuition, buy book and uniforms. It really burdens the students\' parents," Panji said concernedly.
Raising funds and providing scholarships is a manifestation of Panji\'s concern that he himself would not be able to continue his schooling. Raised by a single mother, Panji was pessimistic, he was able to study to a higher level.
In his third year of senior high school, before the final exam, he was preoccupied with the idea of setting up a library. Then, he applied to the University of Indonesia through the special student enrollment (PPKB UI) program. He was accepted, but he withdrew because he could not afford the tuition.
Then, he applied to Gadjah Mada University, but he was not accepted. Even though the opportunity to study is slim, Panji tried to join the Bidik Misi student enrollment at Padjadjaran University and was accepted. During college, Panji wanted to make a foundation to convince people to
donate. However, the proposal was rejected by a notary because Panji was too young at 19 and there was no money as a guarantee.
Accustomed to difficulties, Panji did not despair until there was a donor who wanted to be a guarantor and he also got money from a competition prize.
His experience of having financial difficulty to pay school tuition drove Panji to lighten the burden of others who were also having financial difficulties. "Alhamdulillah [Praise be to God], the fund-raising increased to reach Rp 192 million, so the number of scholarship recipients also increased. Now, I want to give scholarships to high school students too," Panji said.
Currently, four libraries, namely in Cilegon, Serang City, Serang regency and Tangerang, have been handed over to the community. One of the great dreams that has not been achieved is to open a library in South Tangerang.
Based on his observations, the area is very close to the capital city of Jakarta and has turned into many elite areas. However, the areas have many suburban areas with needy citizens and they still need support. In the future, his biggest dream is to build a boarding school for the children in remote places of the Banten province.
"A lot of assistance and scholarships are given only to smart kids as well as children in the city who have facilities. While many children in remote areas can only dream of attending a school. They may not be very smart, but clearly they are not stupid, "said Panji, who now works at the Cinta Anak Bangsa Foundation (YACB) as a specialist scholarship.
P anji Aziz Pratama
Born: Serang, 19 September 1994
Education: Social Welfare, Padjadjaran University
Wife: Endah Khaeriyah Nurhidayatin
Child: Abdul Aziz Umar Pratama
Award:
- Global Changemaker 2015
- 1st I Winner Nutrifood Leadership Award 2015
- Youth Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative 2015
- Best Alumni Indonesia Student & Youth Forum 2018