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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

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  • How To Deal With Anxiety?

    How To Deal With Anxiety?

    “When we worry too much about our own expectations, we need to know ourselves first. What are our values, what are our needs, what is the purpose of our life and know our weaknesses and shortcomings.” -Benny Prawira, Founder Into The Light.

    Into The Light is a community built by Benny Prawira for young people aged 18-35 to prevent suicidal behavior and improve health and well-being through research, public education, and policy advocacy. In the latest episode of Bincang Inspiratif by Tanoto Foundation, Benny shares some advice to host Rachel Amanda Aurora on how to control anxiety.

    This edition covers:

    – Mental health, stigma, gender and privilege
    – Recognising discomfort and how to handle it
    – How to deal with anxiety

    Part 1 https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWX8ax7qwKw/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tanotofoundation.org&rp=%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fhow-to-deal-with-anxiety%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1102%2C%22ls%22%3A972%2C%22le%22%3A1082%7D

    Part 2 https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWX9-8uq9fM/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tanotofoundation.org&rp=%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fhow-to-deal-with-anxiety%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A1106%2C%22ls%22%3A972%2C%22le%22%3A1082%7D

    Mental Health and Stigma

    Mental health issues have often been seen as a taboo subject as it’s so personal. Which is ironic, as it is very important for us to take care of our own mental health the same way we take care of our physical health so that it would not affect us in the long-term.

    Benny says that anxiety disorder is different to physical pain, which can often be visibly seen with our eyes. Whenever we are overwhelmed with stress, we might feel certain breakdowns which may affect our mind and physical condition: the more stressed we are the more likely we are to feel less comfortable with our own body, and it might be hard to focus.

    But just like any other health problems, anxiety disorder can be treated by consulting with professionals. Many people are worried about going to professionals as they fear the cost, but Indonesians can actually make use of BPJS, which covers psychiatric health services within its insurance. Benny emphasizes if someone’s anxiety disorder impacts their daily activity, then they really need to immediately consult with professionals.

    Recognise Discomfort and How to Handle It

    When you feel anxious it’s better to acknowledge it and learn how your body reacts. Focus on your feelings and you may notice certain sensations linked to your emotions – for example your muscles might be tense or your fists clenched. Rather than pretending that nothing is happening, it’s better to learn to identify it and understand why you feel the way you do. Then you can better deal with those feelings in future.

    Another problem that often surfaces when trying to convey this anxiety issue to parents is how they might perceive it. This often happens because of a communication gap between parents and children, and the lack of information from the parents’ side about mental health issues.

    How to Deal with Anxiety?

    So what’s the best way for us to overcome our own anxiety when we do not have anyone by our side? Benny suggests learning the ‘grounding’ technique which involves looking at five different things that we can see, four items that we can touch, three items that we can smell, and a snack that we can eat in order to help us to not focus on the anxiety and reduce the effect.

    One other thing that Benny heavily emphasizes whenever we are feeling the symptoms of anxiety is that we should never self-diagnose and that we need to immediately consult with professionals to better understand the symptoms. We need to understand that mental health is as important as physical health and should be treated as such.

    Ko Zin Thet

  • The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Redefining Success

    The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Redefining Success

    Many young people want to become entrepreneurs, but it’s not easy. It takes determination, mental resilience, the right mindset, and of course the right strategy.

    In this episode of Bincang Inspiratif from Tanoto Foundation, we’re talking to young entrepreneur Yasa Singgih, who was listed in Forbes Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 in 2016.

    He also won several national and international awards, including National Independent Young Entrepreneur in the category of Creative Student in 2015 and Young Marketeers of The Year in 2016 by Markplus. He played a prominent role in the documentary Film Young Business Leaders from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and also wrote a book, “Never too Young to Become a Billionaire”, about his experience of starting his business.

    In this episode of Bincang Inspiratif by Tanoto Foundation, Yasa Singgih shares his experience with our host, Astrid Tiar.

    This episode covers:
    – His journey as an entrepreneur
    – Yasa’s definition of success
    – Tips to succeed in life https://www.instagram.com/tv/CVhx_9hK5yH/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tanotofoundation.org&rp=%2Fen%2Fnews%2Fthe-entrepreneurs-journey-redefining-success%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1020%2C%22ls%22%3A919%2C%22le%22%3A1001%7D


    The journey of being an entrepreneur.

    Yasa was 15 years old when he started his first business. “I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs,” Yasa said. “My father was sick. My brother and I just started a new semester at school. My parents had spent the money for us already. At that point, I realized that I had to be able to finance myself. ”

    At a young age, he started to work as a part-timer in his free time, and used the money he earned to start his first business selling decorative lights and t-shirts that he bought at Tanah Abang. The journey of becoming a successful entrepreneur was not easy. The journey was like a rollercoaster, with much trial and error.

    Yasa always takes time to learn about the industry that he is involved in. “Every industry is unique and has its advantages and disadvantages,” he said to Astrid.

    The key to his success is to “always be humble to learn new things,” Yasa explained. Currently, he is the man behind the fashion brand Men’s Republic, and has just started a skincare business.

    Yasa’s definition of success

    Everyone has a learning curve, and failure is unavoidable. As the quote from Bill Gates says,”success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” Sometimes, it is hard and even embarrassing to accept failure, but he said we should be willing to admit it sincerely and gracefully as entrepreneurs. Therefore, we can motivate ourselves to improve to avoid the next failure.

    The other way to overcome failure is changing one’s perspective about it. Many people are stuck in a victim mode and are not able to think about how to solve their problems. “People should realize their responsibility in a situation. Then they can move on; either the situation controls them or they take control of the situation.”

    Tips to succeed in life

    During Bincang Inspiratif, Yasa shared a few pieces of wisdom for anyone who wants to be successful and an entrepreneur.

    Everyone has a different momentum. Do things to express yourself and not to impress others.

    Trust takes time to earn. Established brands became established because they consistently maintain good quality and respond to the market.

    Always have humility and willingness to adapt. “When I was younger, I learned things from people who are older than me. But now, I am learning new things from people who are younger than me,” Yasa explained.

    Always be grateful. No matter how hard the situation, we always look for a reason to wake up every morning. Knowing what we want will drive us forward. Looking around us will give us a sense of purpose.

    Don’t miss these and tips and more in the full episode!

    Ko Zin Thet

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