Basuni Yusuf (56) took his eldest son, Andromeda Sufi Aggoro (18), to\nthe Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) by bajaj. The resident of\nTegalrejo in the city of Yogyakarta spent Rp 400,000 on petrol, but it\nwas \u2018repaid\u2019 with a scholarship for his son.<\/p>\n
Andro had passed the entrance test for ITB, his dream university.\nHowever, Basuni realised he could not afford Andro\u2019s tuition as he still\nhad to support Andro\u2019s six younger siblings. Basuni works as a bajaj\ndriver, and even then he rents the vehicle for Rp 80,000 a day.<\/p>\n
Basuni was deeply torn: he was overjoyed by Andro\u2019s achievement, but\nalso anxious about how to cover Andro\u2019s living costs away from home. In\nthe end, Basuni gave Andro his blessing, on condition that Andro could\nsecure a scholarship.<\/p>\n
Basuni had planned from the outset to take Andro to Bandung by bajaj.\nHe shared this plan with the ITB parents\u2019 WhatsApp group. Unexpectedly,\nthat step opened the door for Andro to receive a scholarship.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the start I planned to take him by bajaj, and I shared it with\nthe ITB Parents\u2019 Association group. While we were looking around for\nscholarships, ITB actually invited us to come to the campus, we were\ninvited and offered a scholarship,\u201d Basuni explained when met at his\nhome on Friday (24\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
Basuni and Andro, accompanied by Andro\u2019s mother and one of his\nsiblings, set off for Bandung on Friday (17\/7) at 5pm. They travelled by\nbajaj after Basuni obtained permission from the vehicle\u2019s owner.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe journey took 24 hours, though we stayed overnight. We reached\nGombong at 11.30pm and slept at a lodge, then set off again in the\nmorning. I rested twice, and we arrived in Bandung at 8.23pm,\u201d Basuni\nrecounted.<\/p>\n
\u201cPetrol was around Rp 400,000 return, because we drove at a leisurely\npace. Alhamdulillah, we were so happy and so motivated that we didn\u2019t\nfeel the distance, but we took it easy, stopping at prayer times to\npray, and then resting. So it took a bit longer,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, ITB had arranged a special ceremony to welcome\nAndro and his family. There, Andro was ceremonially given various forms\nof assistance to support his studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt turned out there was an event; when I came to ITB I didn\u2019t know\nabout it. I was so happy I performed a prostration of gratitude. We were\nwelcomed by the Dean, and welcomed by the Rector at his official\nresidence,\u201d Basuni explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were given Rp 5 million in cash for travel expenses. My son was\ngiven a laptop. Then he received a living-cost scholarship of Rp 6\nmillion per semester. As for tuition, the UKT is only Rp 1 million, so\ninsyaAllah we can manage,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
To lighten the financial burden, Andro will stay at a student\npesantren during his studies in Bandung. Beyond that, all that remains\nis for Andro to pursue his dream, now turned into reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll stay at a student pesantren there. He\u2019s already registered\nonline. Yes, because renting a room is expensive there. The cheapest\nboarding rooms there are Rp 1 million, while the pesantren is only Rp\n3.5 million a year,\u201d Basuni concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bajaj-driver-spends-rp-400-000-on-petrol-to-take-son-to-itb-secures-scholarship-1784883054", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }