Financial uncertainty once nearly forced Zahwa Putri Aulia, a 2024 English Education student at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), to postpone her dream of pursuing higher education. However, through determination and perseverance, she successfully secured the Bayan Peduli Scholarship, turning her worries into achievement.

Coming from a family of four siblings, Zahwa understood the financial burden faced by her parents, whose responsibilities extended beyond covering her education. During her final year of high school, she even considered delaying university enrollment, following her father’s realistic suggestion to prioritize family needs. However, strong encouragement from her mother became a turning point that motivated her to continue striving for her academic goals.

Known as an active and competitive student, Zahwa consistently demonstrated resilience and hard work. Since junior high school, she had participated in various competitions at the national level, ranging from basketball to literacy contests. Rather than being discouraged by challenges, she transformed pressure into motivation to keep moving forward.

Her journey was not without setbacks. Zahwa once failed to pass a regional outstanding student selection program. However, instead of giving up, she used the experience as a learning opportunity and continued seeking scholarship alternatives. Her persistence eventually led her to the Bayan Peduli Scholarship, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by PT Bayan Resources Tbk that provides comprehensive support, including tuition fees, living allowances, learning facilities, and research funding.

After going through a competitive selection process, Zahwa was officially awarded the scholarship in January 2025. Beyond financial assistance, she views the scholarship as a form of trust and responsibility that motivates her to excel academically and contribute actively to campus life.

Her inspiring journey reflects the importance of expanding access to higher education, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting inclusive and equitable learning opportunities. At the same time, her story supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by highlighting how scholarship programs can bridge socio-economic gaps and provide equal chances for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. And SDG 5 for gender equality. 

Overall, Zahwa’s story demonstrates that determination, resilience, and support systems can transform obstacles into opportunities, inspiring other young people to pursue their dreams despite financial limitations.