Alumni addressed global challenges through SDG projects, mentorship, and community-driven initiatives.
This article was originally published in the Jakarta Globe
by Prima Desita
Yesaya Hardyanto didn’t give traveling much thought when he was growing up. But that all changed when he was given the opportunity to participate in a youth exchange program while he was in high school. In 2004, during his second year of high school, he was chosen for the American Field Service’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange Study (YES) program, which started after the Sept. 11, 2011 terrorist attacks to help foster understanding between the US and the Islamic world.
Yesaya’s experience marked the beginning of his interest in seeing the world and helping others. During college, he participated in another exchange program sponsored by the Indonesian government and Canada World Youth. The program was another life-changing experience that inspired Yesaya to learn more about the world and to undertake humanitarian projects.
He now lives and works in Jakarta, and tries to share some of his hopes, goals and views on the city.
Describe a typical and an average day for you.
I work from Monday to Friday and sometimes travel out of town for workshops and meetings. Right now, I am working on this environmental project that is funded by foreign donors and partnered with the Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry to help local governments create their own development policies and plans.
On the weekends, I read, watch movies or just stay in my flat to enjoy the free time that the weekend has blessed me with. Sometimes, with a little luck, I take the occasional outing to see concerts or shows or meet up with some friends.
What did you do in those youth exchange programs?
During my Canada World Youth program, I did a humanitarian project in a rural village in Central Kalimantan. I met so many wonderful people that it made it seem like my second home and I learned a great deal about teamwork as well as the value of friendships and family. Now, together with the fellow alumni of my YES exchange year, I am running some community service projects in Jakarta and Surabaya. We have been doing this since 2009. We donated books, built a small library for less-fortunate students, visited orphanages, conducted a training camp and workshops for high school students and many other things.
What lessons did you learn from your exchange experiences?
I learned to appreciate the value of doing something you love and are passionate about. I always wanted to work on social and humanitarian projects and community development type of things so I explored those passions any way I could.
If you could travel back to the past, what would you change?
If I could travel back to my past, there are so many things that I wish I could have done differently.
First, I wish that I had not hated math so badly when I was in school. I wish that I read more classic novels like [Jane Austen’s] “Persuasion” and [Charlotte Bronte’s] “Jane Eyre” or philosophy books by people like [Soren] Kierkegaard and [Jean-Paul] Sartre when I was in high school. I also wish that I learned how to play instruments like the saxophone or drums earlier in life.
I wish I had spent more time with my grandpa before he died.
But really, if I could travel back to the past like a time traveler to change or fix anything I’ve done, I would change nothing. Life is great in its own way.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I could picture myself working at my own non-profit organization for youth networking and development training.
What does Jakarta mean to you?
I have only lived in Jakarta for four months so far. I moved here from Surabaya. I wouldn’t say that life is very hard here. It is hard sometimes, but I guess it is just different from Surabaya. Jakarta is the center of the country’s massive economic growth and it has shown me variety and different aspects of life that I have never witnessed before.
If the word for Paris is “romance,” then my word for this city would be “advancement.” Living in this city requires you to advance, excel and push yourselves to your very limit. Otherwise, you will miss the opportunities that the city has to offer.
When I was living in a more laid-back environment, life was about savoring the moment. Now that I live in the city where advancement is the norm, life is about making schedules and plans, even if it’s just meeting up with your own best friend.
Where can we find you on Saturday night at 10 p.m. in Jakarta?
My choice of hang out spots are the bookstores and coffee shops in the Mahakam area around Blok M. The Pisa Cafe usually has live performances on Saturday and it has a nice atmosphere, too. Other than that, Senayan usually will be my choice for a Saturday night chill out. If you’re lucky, sometimes there are music concerts happening around the Senayan area, too.
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<em>Yesaya Hardyanto was talking to Prima Desita.</em></p>