From Cycling to Sell Fish to Chasing Dreams at a People's School
A year ago, Muhammad Risky Pratama (12) spent his days cycling tens of kilometres to sell fresh fish in the Bagan Deli area of Medan, helping to support his family. Now, his life has changed dramatically. Through the Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Pertama (SRMP) 2 Medan, Risky has not only gained the opportunity to continue his education but also found new hope to realise his dreams and aspirations.
“Sometimes I’d earn Rp30,000 a day, at most Rp90,000 if all the fish sold out,” Risky recounted in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday (23/6/2026).
Coming from a humble background, Risky, the eldest of four siblings, has been cared for by his grandparents, Salamuddin and Masitah, since he was in the fourth grade of primary school. His mother migrated out of the area for work, while his father has remarried and lives far away, rarely seeing Risky. The family relied on his grandfather’s income from harvesting shellfish at sea, an uncertain livelihood earning around Rp30,000 to Rp50,000 a day depending on the weather. With 13 family members to support, the grandfather struggled to cover Risky’s school fees. Consequently, from the sixth grade, Risky voluntarily helped sell fish to earn extra income. “The earnings were given to my grandmother, who then bought rice and nappies for my younger sibling,” he said.
The Sekolah Rakyat programme has not only changed Risky’s life but also brought hope to his grandparents, who wished for a better environment for their grandchild’s education. Masitah (55) expressed deep gratitude for the programme initiated by President Prabowo Subianto, saying that without it, Risky might not have been able to continue his schooling. “I used to cry because I knew I couldn’t afford to send him to school. He would ask me, ‘Grandma, can I go to school?’ and I would cry. But now I cry tears of happiness,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. She has observed significant changes in Risky since he enrolled, noting his increased independence, confidence, and diligence in worship. “The change is huge. Before, he used to wander around aimlessly; now, when he goes out, it’s to the prayer room or the mosque.”
His grandfather, Salamuddin (63), described Risky as a child full of initiative who sold fish of his own accord, without any coercion. However, Salamuddin believed Risky must continue his schooling. “The income was decent, but we care more about his education. We encouraged him to study so he can become an educated person,” he explained.
Life has not been easy for Risky without his mother. Since last seeing her in the fourth grade, he has had no contact with her except for occasional phone calls. “I miss my mother. I want to see her like before. She used to ask me to wash the dishes and look after my siblings, but now she doesn’t,” Risky said, his eyes welling up. Despite these circumstances, Risky has grown into a resilient individual. Caring for his younger siblings has fostered his independence, a trait further strengthened at Sekolah Rakyat, where he not only gains academic knowledge but also builds character and skills. He is pleased with the school’s facilities, which support his ambition to become a soldier. “I couldn’t read before, but now I can, thanks to the teachers, guardians, and dormitory supervisors. I also didn’t know the intentions for prayer and ablution, but now I do,” he added.
Closing the conversation, Risky expressed his hope to reunite with his mother while continuing to pursue his dreams at Sekolah Rakyat. “I hope my mother is doing well at work and doesn’t worry about us too much, so she can focus. Thank you for looking after us since we were little,” he said, deeply moved.