Photo: IPB University student Saela Karlita (center) at Korindo Foundation’s scholarship award ceremony (9/16)
JAKARTA – Most public and private college scholarships are designed for the financially challenged, leaving middle-income students disadvantaged in selection. The same happens with merit-based programs, where richer students have bigger gains.
IPB University’s Saela Karlita (19) knows this situation well. Her family in Pemalang, Central Java, has fallen on hard times this year, prompting the second-year Forestry and Environment student to seek financial help.
But despite her above-average grades, Saela has yet to find success. All because she doesn’t have a low-income certificate.
“I tried and got rejected so many times since I started college. [I think] it’s partly because these scholarships require a low-income certificate that not many have. But in the third semester, my parents were busy meeting other needs, so I made another attempt, then another, until I found Korindo Foundation.”
A similar tale was shared by Intan Nuraini (20), a working student from National University (UNAS). “For people like me, cost is definitely a main factor [for considering scholarships], since I had to pay [tuition] from my income. Getting this funding from Korindo [Group] is important to me, because it covers [my needs] for this semester and alleviates my and my grandma’s daily struggle.”
She is learning Korean language and culture to support her future career. “My dream is to work in South Korea. It’s an advanced country, and I can learn about technology there.”
Photo: Intan with five other awardees on Wednesday (9/17)
Both Saela and Intan portray the reality of being middle-class in Indonesia, where everything is “not less, but not much more”.
While not poor by government standards and blessed with stable income, this group is riddled with financial burden — especially to access and provide their children with higher education.
Through easier administrative requirements, Korindo’s scholarship program aims to offer relief, helping bright minds from all socio-economic backgrounds expand their chances of success and a better future.
“Starting this year, we are increasing our beneficiary pool to six students per campus. We hope this move will help more undergraduates,” said the Foundation’s general secretary, Lee Sunghoon.
The program also recognizes awardees for their persistence and diligence, while promoting consistent performance. We hope all our scholarship recipients can finish their studies well. (PR)
