Wamensos Agus Jabo Supports Film on Sekolah Rakyat as a Tool for Public Communication

The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) is supporting the production of a short film titled ‘Penjaga Harapan’ (Guardian of Hope), which aims to convey the ideological values of the Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools) programme to the public. The film will tell the story of a child from an underprivileged family who initially had to work but eventually gets the opportunity to attend school.

This was conveyed during an audience between representatives of the Ministry of State Secretariat and the creative team of Penjaga Harapan with Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono at the Ministry of Social Affairs office on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. Doni Adhitia, Content Coordinator for Penjaga Harapan, stated that the film is not merely a production but a collaborative effort to foster empathy and understanding that the programme genuinely impacts people’s lives.

Wamensos Agus Jabo expressed his full support, stressing that the initiative must succeed. “If we start this, it must succeed. This is not just about production, but about showing the public that the state is present and offers hope,” he said. The Ministry has also opened up support for the production process, including access to locations, data, and coordination with relevant units.

Agus Jabo explained that Sekolah Rakyat is an instrument provided by the state to open access to education for children from underprivileged families, rather than an end in itself. The majority of students come from families in the lowest economic brackets, and the boarding school concept provides proper educational access without being constrained by zoning or geographical limitations.

The film, initiated through the Penjaga Harapan platform, is designed as a medium to convey the programme’s values and messages to the wider public. The narrative will follow the journey of a child from a modest background who initially had to work before being given the chance to attend school. Wildanshah, President Director of Penjaga Harapan, noted that the initiative serves as a bridge for communicating government policies in a more grounded and easily understandable manner, with the creative approach complementing the state’s substantive message.

The film will be produced with a duration of approximately 25 minutes, along with a 30-second trailer version for distribution on public channels such as videotrons. The production is expected to broaden the involvement of the film community in conveying strategic government programmes and to strengthen public understanding that improving human resources is key to poverty alleviation. The story, set in areas like Cariu, portrays the transformation of a child from having to work daily to gaining the opportunity to study at Sekolah Rakyat, carrying the message of moving “from darkness into light” and focusing on new hope, barrier-free education access, character building, and the state’s role in uplifting the poor. Production is planned for three days, based on research and consultation with the Ministry and the film community.