Pak Sule, a farmer's son from Flores serving at Sekolah Rakyat
“Where is Pak Sule?” This simple question often arises from the children when Sulaiman Sulang (42), affectionately called Sule, has not been seen for some time in the Sekolah Rakyat environment in Malang Regency, East Java.
For Sulaiman, these small moments are the reason he feels at home being a Guardian at Sekolah Rakyat.
“So if I have two days off or have official duties somewhere, the children look for me, ‘Where is Pak Sule? Why is he not visible?’” said Sulaiman, met some time ago in Malang, East Java.
At Sekolah Rakyat, there is a warmth that Sulaiman did not find in the same way during 15 years of service as an administrative staff member at a state vocational high school.
In the first month of serving as a guardian, Sulaiman spent much time observing how to accompany children from diverse backgrounds from the poorest families in Deciles 1 and 2 of the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN).
Unlike ordinary schools, accompanying Sekolah Rakyat students is not enough with rules alone. Sulaiman revealed that the work must be done with heart and sincerity.
“Sekolah Rakyat is truly extraordinary. Because there, we teach children who are indeed underprivileged. Children who no longer have parents. Children who live only with their grandparents. Children who live alone,” said Sulaiman.
A farmer’s son
Sulaiman comes from a simple family; his parents worked as farmers. The man from Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, knows very well what it is like to grow up in limitations, how education becomes something that must be fought for.
Furthermore, Sulaiman recounted that he migrated to Malang to continue his education to a higher level.
His journey during college was not easy; he stayed at his aunt’s house and was willing to work for daily food expenses.
“But I did not fully stay at my aunt’s house. In the afternoon I would definitely go to a lecturer’s house. There I helped wash dishes, water plants every afternoon, sweep the yard. That was only to be able to eat. I did that for almost 4 years,” he revealed.
While staying at the lecturer’s house, Sulaiman learned many things, one of which was reading many books and writing.
When he finished college, Sulaiman became active as a book writer and once received an award at the East Java provincial level.
“When I graduated from college, I worked, I wrote up to 44 book titles, and all were published with ISBN. Recently in 2025, I received an award from the Governor of East Java, as the most prolific book writer in East Java,” said Sulaiman.
In addition to writing books, Sulaiman is also active in environmental conservation activities through waste processing innovation.
“I always take part in waste processing and conservation training. Eventually, several NGOs from abroad invited me to Malaysia, to several countries, to several provinces,” he said.
He hopes that his experience in writing and environmental conservation can be shared with the students of Sekolah Rakyat.
“I always tell them, this is a farmer’s son. He can write that many books, can travel around Indonesia, can be invited to several countries. Without money, without spending any money. So those are the motivations I convey to them, that they should not easily give up, because we are people who have nothing,” he said.