Paying it forward with Tanoto Foundation

Tanoto Scholar Duantra Bergas Ari Kuntar feels that his life has been full of blessings and kindness, and it is time to pass on the same generosity to the community.

Ari received a Tanoto Foundation scholarship in 2013, while he was studying at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology at Bogor Agricultural University.

He was an active part of the university’s Tanoto Scholars Association (TSA IPB), and so quickly became used to being involved in social projects.

“At that time, TSA IPB had a Bina Desa project, where we went to Sukadamai Village in Bogor every weekend to guide the children there in improving their learning. We engaged with parents to share how they can motivate their children to study,” recalled Ari.

Tanoto Scholars are supported by Tanoto Foundation to run goodwill social projects and to pay forward the benefits that they have received to the community. The pay it forward concept is largely emphasised by the founders of Tanoto Foundation, Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto, who say that good leaders must have good character.

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LIWAR BUNGASNYA Liwar itu berarti sangat. Bungas itu artinya cantik atau tampan. Jadi liwar bungasnya itu artinya sangat cantik atau tampan. Bersama siswa siswi SDN Haratai 2 yang sangat cantik dan tampan saya mendapat kebahagiaan tersendiri. Bahagia itu sederhana lho, seperti melihat mereka tersenyum manis. Berbagi itu tidak harus dengan materi, tapi bisa juga dengan tenaga dan waktu. Bekantan terakhir ini memberikan saya senyum nanti sepulangnya saya dari penempatan. Tidak lama lagi memang. Tp nanti saya tidak ingin bersedih mengingat semua kenangan ini. Senyum ini akan memberi senyum lagi kepada saya nanti sebagai pengobat lelah. #kabARI84 #BEKANTAN #PENGAJARMUDA #INDONESIAMENGAJAR #LOKSADO

A post shared by Duantra Ari (@ariaarrii) on Mar 31, 2019 at 10:36pm PDT

When he graduated in 2017, Ari wanted to continue contributing to society. He decided to leave his job at a tech start-up, opting instead to spend a year as a teacher educating the Indonesian rural community via the country’s ‘Mengajar’ program.

“There was a strict selection process required to become a program participant, and I had to compete with more than 6,000 interested parties. “In 2018, only 33 people were selected to become young teachers as part of the program. I was thankfully one of them,” Ari said.

Under the program, Ari is currently placed in Haratai Village in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency of South Kalimantan province. The village is a two-hour trip from the nearest city via a steep, winding road.

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BEKANTAN BAJAYAU Aku ketemu Irsad di SDN Bajayau Tengah 2. Sekolahnya ga jauh beda dengan sekolahku. Tp ya anak ini lumayan berani dan percaya diri untuk bicara ke depan. Sebenarnya bukan melulu masalah external sih yg membuat anak itu bertumbuh baik atau tidak, tp dari internal jika merekanya sudah bagus, dimanapun berada akan ttp bagus. See u again Irsad. Kapan2 kita masak2 lagi y. #kabARI70 #bekantan #INDONESIAMENGAJAR #PENGAJARMUDA #AKS18AIK #HSS

A post shared by Duantra Ari (@ariaarrii) on Jan 25, 2019 at 8:17pm PST

“The incline of the slope here is about 45 degrees,” Ari said, adding that there is no phone signal in the village and he basically does not use his phone here.

Yet, Ari finds the whole experience of going directly to the community to be extremely fulfilling.

“I really enjoy guiding the children and getting parents to care more about their children’s education, and also motivating teachers to be more creative and diligent in the classroom,” he said.

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BELAJAR DI BALAI Salah satu kegiatan sore kami di balai bersama anak. Untuk membuat mereka berkumpul kadang harus dibumbui dengan membawa permainan yg bs dimainkan setelah mereka belajar. Haha. Yah, namanya juga anak2. Kalau ga takut dimarahin orang tua ya harus ada alasan membahagiakan dr sekedar belajar ringan di sore hari. Kalian orang tua / guru sudah pernah kah mengajak anak bermain setelah mereka belajar? Hehe. Atau mungkin ada dr kalian yg punya pengalaman menarik terkait belajar tapi ada syaratnya pas kecil? Haha Kalau saya dlu. Tiap selesai belajar, boleh nyetop mamang2 tukang baso di depan. Wkwkwk #ceritapm #kabARI69 #PENGAJARMUDA #HSS #INDONESIAMENGAJAR #AKS18AIK

A post shared by Duantra Ari (@ariaarrii) on Jan 19, 2019 at 12:12am PST

The best part of the experience, however, is being able to paying forward what he has received from Tanoto Foundation to people in need.

Ari said that even though he will head back to the tech industry after his stint at Mengajar ends in May 2019, he hopes to continue being involved in improving the quality of education in Indonesia again in the future.