Risky, the Fresh Fish Hawker, Weaving Dreams at the People's School
A year ago, 12-year-old Muhammad Risky Pratama spent his days cycling tens of kilometres to sell fresh seafood in the Bagan Deli area of Medan, all to help support his family. His life has since changed dramatically thanks to Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Pertama (SRMP) 2 Medan, a state-run people’s school, which has not only given him the chance to continue his education but also renewed hope for his dreams and aspirations. “Sometimes I’d make Rp30,000 a day, at most I’d get Rp90,000 if all the fish sold,” Risky recounted in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday, 23 June 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 works out of town, while his father has remarried and lives far away, meaning they rarely see each other. The family relies on his grandfather’s income from harvesting shellfish at sea, an unpredictable livelihood that brings in between Rp30,000 and Rp50,000 a day depending on the weather. With 13 family members to support, Salamuddin struggled to cover school fees, prompting Risky to start selling fish in sixth grade on his own initiative. “The money from selling was given to my grandmother, and she would buy rice and nappies for my younger sibling,” Risky explained.
For Risky’s grandmother, Masitah, the Sekolah Rakyat programme initiated by President Prabowo Subianto has been a blessing. She believes that without it, Risky would not have been able to continue his education. “I used to cry because I knew I couldn’t afford to send him to school. He would ask me, ‘Grandma, can I achieve my dreams?’ That made me cry. But now when I cry, it’s from happiness,” the 55-year-old said. She has observed significant changes in Risky since he enrolled, noting his increased independence, confidence, and diligence in worship. “The change is enormous. When he comes home now, instead of wandering around, he goes straight to the prayer room or the mosque.”
His grandfather, Salamuddin, 63, described Risky as a self-starter who chose to sell fish without any pressure, but he always believed education was essential. “His income was decent, but we wanted him to go to school. We encouraged him so he could be educated and become someone,” he said. Life without his mother has been difficult for Risky, who last saw her in the fourth grade and now only communicates with her occasionally by phone. “I miss my mum. I want to see her like before, when she used to ask me to wash the dishes and look after my siblings,” he said. Despite this, he has grown into a resilient young person, and Sekolah Rakyat has strengthened his independence while providing academic learning, character building, and skills training. Risky enjoys the school’s facilities, which he says are helping him pursue his ambition to become a soldier. “I couldn’t read well before, but the teachers and dormitory guardians taught me. I also didn’t know the proper intentions for prayer and ablution, but now I do,” he said. He hopes to see his mother soon and sent her a message: “I hope your work goes well, don’t worry about us too much so you can focus. Thank you for looking after us since we were little.”