WEST JAVA – On the border of Bandung city and regency, there’s a neighborhood that doesn’t place much emphasis on higher education. Children often stop studying after junior or senior high school, then immediately jump into the workforce. But among these limitations, a young man named Koko Iwan Agus Kurniawan emerged who was determined to pursue his education as high as possible.
Koko, the son of a textile factory laborer, absorbed non-material motivation from his father to keep dreaming big. As the eldest of three children, he bears the moral responsibility of being a role model for his younger siblings. At school, his achievements shone brightly as class champion for three consecutive years, an Olympic representative, and a frequent winner of skills competitions.
However, the road to college was not as smooth as imagined. Twice he tried to enter a state university and twice he failed. Disappointed, Koko worked as a teacher at Robotic School and as a retoucher in wedding photography, while studying at a private high school in Dago, majoring in Informatics. However, the exhaustion of traveling between work and college made him give up.
But the spirit was not extinguished. For the third time, Koko tried, this time at Padjadjaran University (UNPAD) Bandung. Determined, he applied for the Bidikmisi Scholarship despite being physically weak due to typhoid symptoms. Together with his mother, he struggled and was finally accepted. At UNPAD, Koko did not only focus on academics, he was also active as Chairman of the Student Representative Body (BPM), deepened his leadership insights through Dompet Dhuafa’s Nusantara Activist Scholarship (BAKTI NUSA), and wrote a book entitled Sociopreneur Millennial under the guidance of Dr. Dwi Purnomo. This book is the forerunner of the idea of collaborative business empowerment of villages and cities continues to grow.
In addition, her role in various social projects through BAKTI NUSA #5, made Koko learn a lot about the importance of social action as an inherent value in her every step. He was involved in community development programs that added depth to his understanding of sustainable leadership.
Koko’s adventure then continued to Thailand, where he continued his master’s studies at Kasetsart University. In the land of the White Elephant, she was active as the Vice Chairperson of PERMITHA, which also initiated the social movement of sharing 1,000 shoes for orphans and the poor. She also met Dr. Mohammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Laureate, who inspired her about the importance of creating social impact through education. This inspiration spurred Koko to dig deeper into the concept of sociopreneurship that he had learned since his first college days.
Koko then pursued her master’s degree with a focus on social enterprise research and sustainability for local MSMEs. She also taught English part-time, supporting herself while expanding her social network. The challenges grew as she continued her doctoral studies in Japan on a MEXT scholarship, moving between the University of Tsukuba and Kyoto University. Traveling more than 500 kilometers between universities was a challenge in itself. However, Koko went through it with enthusiasm. The culture of discipline and hard work in Japan strengthened Koko’s character, making her more resilient in facing various challenges. In addition, Koko is also active in PPLN Osaka as a member who deals with data and information.
In Japan, she explored research on biofuel from algae that utilizes wastewater as a cultivation medium, with the aim of creating sustainable energy solutions. In addition, he was involved in various environmental projects, one of which was a reforestation project using the Miyawaki Method on Mount Tsukuba with PPI Ibaraki and several local communities in Tsukuba City. From this project, he has come to understand the importance of the human role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, and that small efforts in protecting the environment can have a big impact.
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However, the biggest challenge came when his wife was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Koko had to divide his time between research, studies, caring for his two-year-old son, and accompanying his wife through treatment in Japan. The success of his wife’s surgery is a testament to the strength of family support and their resilience in the face of trials.
Today, Koko is a lecturer at UNPAD. He sees the world with a broader perspective. Teaching for him is character building and social impact. His dream is simple but big, to build a youth empowerment ecosystem in the field of Sustainable Agro Industry, inspired by The Local Enablers Ecosystem. He started the Co-Food project, with one of his innovations being a portable rice ATM for community food security during a pandemic.
Not only that, Koko is again involved in research on biofuels that use algae to produce environmentally friendly energy. His research at IPAL Bojongsoang, Bandung, focuses on utilizing wastewater as an algae cultivation medium to support energy sustainability. His desire is to create innovative solutions that not only impact academia, but also the wider community.
Looking back on her long journey, Koko still holds on to the principle that education is the key to change. She aspires to create a learning environment that encourages collaboration, innovation and empowerment. Koko wants to continue his social projects, expand the impact of the programs he has started, and inspire the younger generation not to be afraid to dream big.
Koko Iwan’s story is proof that big dreams can start from small steps in the suburbs. That with determination, patience, and a little courage, limitations are no longer a barrier. Every small step is part of the big change he wants to see in the world. And he continues to walk, undaunted, bringing hope to the younger generation who are not afraid to dream big. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Riza Muthohar, GREAT Edunesia
Editor: Dhika