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  • Tanoto Foundation Celebrates the Graduation of 159 Tanoto Scholars at the Graduation & Alumni Gathering 2024

    Tanoto Foundation Celebrates the Graduation of 159 Tanoto Scholars at the Graduation & Alumni Gathering 2024

    Jakarta, November 29, 2024 – Tanoto Foundation, an independent philanthropic organization in education established by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, hosted the Graduation & Alumni Gathering (GAG) 2024 at Thamrin Nine Ballroom, Jakarta, on Friday (November 29, 2024).

    The event celebrated the graduation of 159 Tanoto Scholars Cohort 2021 from the TELADAN Scholarship and Leadership Program while strengthening connections with program alumni who have been contributing across various fields since 2006.

    In her opening remarks, Inge Kusuma, Country Head of Tanoto Foundation Indonesia, expressed her appreciation for the remarkable journey of the Cohort 2021 Tanoto Scholars, who successfully completed the flagship TELADAN (Transformative Education for Leaders of the Future) leadership program amidst global challenges, including the pandemic.

    “With extraordinary resilience, hard work, dedication, and a continuous drive for self-improvement, the Cohort 2021 Tanoto Scholars have completed this phase of their journey,” said Inge.

    “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Cohort 2021 Scholars. Every small step has the potential to create significant positive change in the world. Starting with oneself is the most powerful way to generate impact, both personally and within a broader community,” she concluded.

    This year’s TELADAN Graduation & Alumni Gathering carried the theme “Impact: It Starts with Me!”, emphasizing the importance of individual initiative in driving change.

    The message aligns with the values held by Tanoto Foundation’s founders, Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto, who overcame numerous challenges, including Sukanto’s early withdrawal from high school.

    “Through determination and hard work, they built a successful business empire that now includes Tanoto Foundation, operating globally in Indonesia, Singapore, China, and Brazil,” Inge added.

    “Now it’s time for Tanoto Scholars to create greater impacts and contribute to making the world a better place. Whether within local communities, professional environments, or broader social goals, find ways to make a difference—be it through volunteering, supporting local businesses, mentoring others, or simply being a positive presence,” she encouraged.

    Tanoto Scholars Cohort 2021 gathered for a group photo with Tanoto Foundation staff.

    Inge highlighted three key principles to guide Cohort 2021 Scholars and recent graduates in creating positive impacts. First, understand your values and life goals by identifying your core principles and objectives. Second, achieve goals through small, consistent actions, translating big visions into tangible steps. Lastly, view failures as opportunities to learn, turning obstacles into stepping stones for growth.

    “Be the leaders who bring the light of change, starting from small communities and extending to the wider world,” she concluded.

    The Graduation & Alumni Gathering 2024 was not only a moment to honor the efforts of Tanoto Scholars but also a platform for collaboration with alumni who have become leaders across various sectors.

    Awardees of “Best Graduate and Valedictorian”

    • Ali Nur Hidayat – Universitas Gadjah Mada (Valedictorian)
    • Okti Hajeng Kristiadi – Universitas Diponegoro (Best Graduate)
    • Tias Amalia Safitri – IPB University (Best Graduate)
    • Yohanssen Pradana Pardede – Universitas Sumatera Utara (Best Graduate)
    • Jeremy – Institut Teknologi Bandung (Best Graduate)
    • Nur Fauzi Ramadhan – Universitas Indonesia (Best Graduate, visually impaired)

    The awards were determined based on various criteria, including academic and non-academic achievements, active participation in experiential learning, public speaking, social and organizational involvement, research activities, leadership, and skill enhancement during the TELADAN program.

    “One of my greatest blessings during my four years of study was joining Tanoto Foundation’s TELADAN Scholarship and Leadership Program. It provided more than financial support; the values, processes, and networks I gained have shaped me into who I am today,” said Ali Nur Hidayat, Valedictorian of Cohort 2021.

    Recognition for Alumni Contributions

    The event also honored four distinguished TELADAN alumni:

    · Zacky Khairul Umam, Ph.D. (Universitas Indonesia, 2006 cohort): Director of the Abdurrahman Wahid Center for Peace and Humanities, recognized for contributions to culture and humanitarian efforts.

    · Vanessa Geraldine (Universitas Indonesia, 2013 cohort): Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at PRIEDS Technology, recognized for contributions to business and innovation.

    · Vania Fitryanti Herlambang (Institut Teknologi Bandung, 2013 cohort): Environmental activist and former Sustainable Development Goals Ambassador (2019–2021), acknowledged for contributions to social action and sustainability.

    · Patricia Lisia (Tanoto Foundation’s IMPA Belt and Road Program, Tsinghua University, 2021 cohort): Deputy Director at the Banking Regulation and Development Department, OJK, recognized for public service contributions.

    With a spirit of “Pay-it-Forward”, Tanoto Foundation remains committed to nurturing future leaders ready to face global challenges and create lasting positive impacts.

    ***

    About Tanoto Foundation

    Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization in education established by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981. The foundation believes in the equal opportunity for everyone to realize their full potential. Tanoto Foundation’s programs are driven by the belief that quality education accelerates equal opportunities. The foundation strives to unlock potential and improve lives through quality education, from early childhood to productive age. Its three pillars of commitment are enhancing learning environments, developing future leaders, and facilitating medical research.

    Contact Information:

    Communications Team, Tanoto Foundation

    Email: communications@tanotofoundation.org

    Website: www.tanotofoundation.org

    Ko Zin Thet

    ,

  • Preparing Smart and Healthy Generations: Teachers Must Actively Implement Creative Teaching Methods

    Preparing Smart and Healthy Generations: Teachers Must Actively Implement Creative Teaching Methods

    Jakarta, November 26, 2024 – Stunting and healthy lifestyle issues among children have become pressing public health concerns. Children need health education to foster a smart and healthy future generation. However, such health materials often fail to effectively reach children due to monotonous and unengaging teaching methods.

    Thus, creative and interactive health teaching methods are essential to ensure children can receive, process, and apply healthy habits in their daily lives. Teaching materials, such as the “Ayo Sehat” (“Let’s Be Healthy”) module from the Ministry of Health (MoH), are already available.

    To teach these modules effectively, teachers need to prepare themselves by enhancing their capacity and creativity to capture students’ interest. As highlighted by Edy Gunawan from the East Kalimantan Health Office, appropriate and engaging health education can positively impact children’s health.

    “Teachers and educators are expected to continuously develop teaching methods, especially those provided by the MoH. Non-monotonous methods can ultimately change students’ behavior towards healthier lifestyles,” he emphasized.

    The need for creativity in teaching, including health education, is acknowledged by educators. Religious studies teacher at SMPN 2 Semarang, Ika Suryani, stated that students need to be taught and encouraged to practice healthy lifestyles consistently in ways that capture their attention.

    However, many teachers lack the required skills. Hence, Ika emphasizes the importance of training for teachers to create interactive learning models and environments. Engaging teaching models are necessary across all subjects, including literacy, numeracy, and health education.

    “From how to apply it to students to habituating it in daily school practices—I hope what I’ve learned can be shared with colleagues, at school, through MGMP (Subject Teachers’ Working Group), and on larger platforms,” explained Ika.

    Ika is one of the recipients of the “Award for Active Teachers in Implementing Health Teaching Tools” as part of the Ministry of Health’s Health Innovation Festival (HAI Fest). This competition showcased teachers’ creativity in teaching health materials to students.

    For Ika, creative teaching methods are not new. She previously attended training sessions by Tanoto Foundation, an independent philanthropic organization in education founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, as her school is a partner. Ika wasn’t alone—two other teachers trained under the PINTAR (Promoting Innovation and Improving the Quality of Education) program by Tanoto Foundation also received awards: Ariepina from TK Negeri Pembina Tenggarong and Sri Nurhayati from SDN 003 Tenggarong.

    Names and schools of teachers (from left to right): Ika Suryani, MPd (SMPN 2 Semarang), Sri Nurhayati, SPd (SDN 003 Tenggarong), and Ariepina, SPd (TK Negeri Pembina Tenggarong).

    “I received training from Tanoto Foundation, so when I joined this competition, the material wasn’t unfamiliar, and I could implement it in teaching. Besides literacy and numeracy, the health education materials were also very helpful for classroom learning,” said Ariepina.

    She noted facing several challenges during the MoH competition but overcame them with the support of Tanoto Foundation’s teaching modules and local government backing. “There were many challenges, but thankfully we managed to get through them,” Ariepina said during the awards ceremony at the Jakarta Convention Center on Saturday, November 9, 2024.

    Sri Nurhayati from SDN 003 Tenggarong also shared her familiarity with creative teaching materials, ensuring students wouldn’t get bored during lessons.

    “Tanoto Foundation has provided such training, so we’re not surprised or overwhelmed when faced with competition materials like this,” Sri said with a smile.

    Sri hopes creative teaching training for teachers can be expanded. She herself is ready to support the development of such educational models to help children easily understand and apply the materials. “In the future, I plan to disseminate these methods to colleagues through study groups in schools,” she added.

    Head of Quality Assurance and PAUD & Non-formal and Informal Education Institutions, Kutai Kartanegara Education Office, Ida Wahyu Sayekti, emphasized the importance of creative teaching training for teachers.

    Ida stated that support from all stakeholders is necessary to develop creative teaching approaches, noting that government programs often lag behind initiatives by non-governmental organizations.

    “The assistance from Tanoto Foundation has been very meaningful for us, especially in schools. Their programs are more routine and intensive. The government may just launch a program, but Tanoto has already implemented it, which has greatly helped us, even leading to national-level achievements,” she explained.

    Ida hopes collaboration between ministries, local governments, and philanthropic organizations like Tanoto Foundation continues. This will ensure creative teaching training, including health education, reaches more schools and teachers.

    “We will follow up by participating in all dissemination events so that education quality improves and issues like stunting and other health concerns are addressed,” she concluded.

    ***

    About Tanoto Foundation

    Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization in education founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, driven by the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to realize their full potential. Its programs are grounded in the belief that quality education accelerates equal opportunities. Tanoto Foundation strives to unlock potential and improve lives through quality education, from early childhood to productive adulthood. Its three commitment pillars are enhancing learning environments, developing future leaders, and facilitating medical research.

    For further information, please contact:

    Tanoto Foundation Communications Team

    Email: communications@tanotofoundation.org

    Website: www.tanotofoundation.org

    Ko Zin Thet

  • Young Researchers: UNESCO and Tanoto Foundation Amplify Youth Voices

    Young Researchers: UNESCO and Tanoto Foundation Amplify Youth Voices

    Jakarta, 22 November – The Youth as Researchers – Tanoto Student Research Awards (YAR-TSRA), initiated by UNESCO and the Tanoto Foundation, has returned following last year’s success in launching an innovative program aimed at amplifying youth voices through social research and contributing to policymaking.

    This year’s Knowledge Summit, held at Ganara FX Sudirman, Jakarta, marks a new chapter in empowering Indonesian youth to address societal challenges through evidence-based solutions.

    Building on the success of YAR-TSRA in 2023, this year’s program expanded its reach to include students from Sumatra, bringing the total number of participants to 96 students from various universities across Indonesia.

    The Knowledge Summit provides a platform for young researchers to present their findings to policymakers, academics, and private sector leaders, showcasing innovative approaches to tackling Indonesia’s social issues under themes such as mental health, climate action, digital technology, and inclusive education.

    YAR-TSRA is more than just a research initiative—it is a transformative platform that equips Indonesian youth with essential skills to tackle real-world challenges. Through training, mentoring, and focused research, participants are empowered to explore topics of personal and social relevance, design robust methodologies, and analyze data to generate actionable recommendations.

    Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office Jakarta, highlighted UNESCO’s collaboration with thousands of youth worldwide through the establishment and support of youth-led initiatives and networks. These efforts enhance their capacities, foster knowledge production, and create spaces for dialogue between youth, policymakers, and civil society organizations.

    “Today, we see how students produce high-quality research, such as the impacts of government climate policies in the Thousand Islands; leveraging digital technology to map hidden culinary adventures in Makassar; and strategies for fostering inclusive education for children in fishing villages

    in Medan. This demonstrates that youth can contribute and drive change. YAR-TSRA participants exemplify that young people are leaders of both today and tomorrow,” Maki added.

    Michael Susanto, Head of Leadership Development & Scholarship at the Tanoto Foundation, emphasized the growing voices and roles of youth as key drivers of sustainable development.

    “Young generations are increasingly aware of global issues such as education, social inclusion, and climate resilience. The Tanoto Foundation, an independent philanthropic organization in education founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, focuses on developing human resources across various segments, including higher education. Government collaborations with universities and development sectors can create platforms to empower youth and lay the foundation for them to drive change,” Michael stated.

    “Through our collaboration with UNESCO and partner universities, the Tanoto Foundation has introduced the *Global Youth as Researchers* program as a model for Indonesian youth to gain hands-on field experience and develop solutions and policy recommendations to address gaps in their communities. We hope more young people realize they can also become change agents and contribute to local actions. Moving forward, we aspire to initiate more collaborative efforts to bring youth perspectives and creativity into development solutions,” Michael concluded.

    One YAR-TSRA participant, Muh Nurfaiz Fahmi from Hasanuddin University, expressed his excitement about being part of the prestigious UNESCO Youth as Researchers – Tanoto Student Research Awards program.

    “My team and I are thrilled to contribute to a more equitable digital future through our project to enhance domestic recognition of our city. Despite facing challenges like tight deadlines and technical obstacles, we take pride in our team’s resilience and dedication. We are grateful that our voices as young researchers are heard and valued by UNESCO and the Tanoto Foundation,” Nurfaiz said.

    A Platform for Change: Key Research Areas

    This year’s Knowledge Summit highlighted youth-led research across four categories, each addressing pressing challenges and offering innovative solutions.

    1. Advancing Mental Health

    Young people are directly affected by society’s understanding of mental health, and the YAR-TSRA program provides a critical platform for them to contribute to related policy discussions. YAR-TSRA participants applied these perspectives to local contexts, addressing issues like postpartum depression at community health posts (*posyandu*) and toxic relationships among teenagers. Their passion for destigmatizing mental health is evident in their research projects, which universally advocate for better mental health support.

    2. A More Equitable Digital Future

    Rapid digital transformation not only enhances efficiency and creates new opportunities but also widens disparities. In Indonesia, digital literacy remains a significant challenge for marginalized communities, particularly MSMEs. YAR-TSRA groups explored this gap and proposed practical solutions to create a more inclusive digital ecosystem in Indonesia.

    3. Transformative Inclusive Education

    Education is a lifeline for marginalized communities, yet systemic inequalities often hinder inclusive access. Through their research, YAR-TSRA participants proposed creative solutions to enhance education access across the archipelago. Their studies addressed crucial social issues, such as implementing holistic education to engage marginalized Papuan students in Bogor. Their work underscores the transformative potential of inclusive education in empowering underserved communities.

    4. Innovative Climate Solutions

    Climate change poses an urgent threat, representing a crisis that impacts livelihoods today. One critical issue is fostering innovative solutions to combat climate change. From utilizing biodigester residue as fertilizer in Jatinangor to addressing MSME emissions in Yogyakarta, this year’s research emphasized the importance of local solutions to tackle global challenges. These student-led studies offer practical insights into sustainable practices that protect communities while preserving the planet.

    Youth-led research is essential for creating inclusive scientific studies that reflect diverse perspectives and experiences. This approach also introduces novel ways to shape evidence-based policies and legislation, ensuring young voices are heard in decision-making processes. UNESCO and the Tanoto Foundation proudly announce the successful conclusion of the second YAR-TSRA program in Indonesia, which has successfully amplified the voices of Indonesian youth in research and policymaking.

    ***

    About the Tanoto Foundation

    The Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization in education founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981 on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to realize their full potential. Its programs are based on the belief that quality education accelerates equal opportunities. The foundation works to unlock potential and improve lives through quality education, from early childhood to productive age. Its three pillars are enhancing learning environments, developing future leaders, and facilitating medical research.

    For further information, please contact:

    Tanoto Foundation Communications Team

    Email: communications@tanotofoundation.org

    Website: http://www.tanotofoundation.org

    Ko Zin Thet

    ,