How Andika Wira Teja Gave up His Master's Scholarship to Save His Village

I Gede Andika Wira Teja never imagined that returning home to Pemuteran, the village where he was born, would be a turning point. In March 2020, he returned to his hometown to ask for his parents’ blessing before leaving for the United Kingdom to pursue his master’s degree.

At that time, the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping across the globe, reaching Bali as well. This young man from Buleleng born on April 21, 1998—also fondly known as Dika—was forced to delay his departure until September 2020. Upon his return, he was met with a disheartening scene.

I GEDE ANDIKA Wira Teja encourages local children to love nature while learning. | Doc. SATU Indonesia Awards

Because of the pandemic, elementary and middle school students were forced to study from home. Unfortunately, not all students in Pemuteran could access online learning easily. Hundreds of children from low-income families struggled to buy internet data packages, making it nearly impossible for them to continue their studies.

Giving up a scholarship

To combat learning loss among the village children, Dika founded a positive community movement called Kredibali, short for Kreasi Edukasi Bahasa dan Literasi Lingkungan (Creative Education in Language and Environmental Literacy). As the name suggests, the program focuses on two key elements: English education and environmental awareness based on the children’s needs.

Pemuteran, located in Buleleng Regency, lies between the hills and the sea. Known as a popular diving and snorkeling destination, the village once thrived with foreign tourists. English proficiency was, therefore, crucial for locals to communicate and benefit from tourism.

Since the program was free, Kredibali had to select students carefully. Eventually, 220 students were chosen — mostly from families receiving government financial aid or those whose parents had lost tourism-related jobs during the pandemic.

Dika passionately led the classes in person. | Doc. SATU Indonesia Awards

Kredibali held its first class on May 9, 2020, amid the ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases. The program offered English courses at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels to help students gain valuable skills and prevent them from dropping out of school.

Although Dika was supposed to resume his studies in the UK in September 2020, his deep compassion for the children’s future made him reconsider. He ultimately made a life-changing choice, that is to let go of his overseas scholarship and stay with the children instead to help them learn independently.

A difficult but meaningful decision

His decision met resistance, especially from his parents. But Dika convinced them it was the right thing to do. He believed he could always earn another scholarship, but the children might never again have such a rare chance to continue learning during the pandemic.

Before getting approval, Dika presented his idea during a village council meeting. He explained his concerns that if no action was taken, the children would spend their time helping their parents fish or farm, abandoning education altogether.

“During the meeting, I volunteered and presented my data. I wasn’t sure everyone understood, but they appreciated it,” he recalled.

To comply with social distancing rules, the village hall — a large open space — was chosen as the learning center. Local officials and youth volunteers worked together to support Dika’s initiative.

To Dika’s astonishment, more and more children showed interest in joining, even without any publicity. Because of space limitations, only 220 students could be accommodated. His sacrifice soon proved meaningful — the children’s English proficiency improved remarkably, opening doors to brighter future opportunities.

For Dika, that progress was priceless. One shining example was I Gusti Ayu Putu Sri Kertiasih Wulantari, nicknamed Wulan, who was 14 at the time. Her English improved dramatically thanks to Kredibali.

“Now, when I meet foreign tourists, I can talk to them fluently. Before, I could only manage a simple hello,” Wulan said with a laugh.

Enlivened dream

In addition to improving her communication with tourists, Wulan also won second place in an English speech contest at SMA Negeri 2 Gerokgak, Buleleng, back in June 2020 — an incredible achievement compared to students from more urbanized areas like Denpasar or Badung.

Wulan now believes English proficiency will open doors to a brighter future. Despite her parents’ modest farming background, she is determined not to drop out of school. Gerokgak, where she lives, has one of the highest dropout rates in Buleleng due to limited educational access and social influences.

She expressed her gratitude to Kredibali for broadening her horizons. She even dreams of moving elsewhere to pursue better opportunities, something she never imagined before joining the program.

Kredibali has also won parents’ hearts, not only because of their children’s improved English but also due to the program’s environmental focus. Children are now learning to sort and recycle waste. On top of that, they’re encouraged to pursue dreams for a better future.

Plastic for education

Students in line about to submit plastic waste | Doc. SATU Indonesia Awards

Kredibali introduced a creative system: instead of paying money, children bring plastic waste from home as the “fee” for class. Before lessons start, students deposit their sorted plastic waste into prepared containers with the help of facilitators.

This exchange system instills responsibility. Students show their commitment by bringing waste while also learning about waste management and recycling. The sorted plastics are then sent to a waste bank to be exchanged for rice, in partnership with the Plastic Exchange community, encouraging environmentally friendly habits through tangible rewards.

The collected rice is later distributed to elderly residents in need. Through this initiative, Kredibali addresses three issues at once: it offers free English education and skill development for children, promotes environmental awareness through waste management, and nurtures empathy and generosity by encouraging students to share with those less fortunate.

Learning to show empathy and adopt responsibility | Doc. SATU Indonesia Awards

Leaving a legacy, not seeking popularity

For his brilliant ingenuity, Dika received the 13th SATU Indonesia Awards (2021) from PT Astra International, Tbk as an “Unselfish Hero During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

While honored by the recognition, Dika emphasized that the award was never his goal. A graduate of Udayana University’s Faculty of Economics, he said the main mission of Kredibali was to revitalize his village, which had suffered greatly from the collapse of tourism during the pandemic.

“Our mission is not to make ourselves famous but to leave a legacy in one place,” said the young man, who later earned his master’s degree from a university in Yogyakarta.

Though the children of Pemuteran may not see economic returns immediately, Dika is confident they now have the skills and confidence to thrive in the tourism industry. For him, it is the village who should become famous not the organization.

Nurturing young minds about natural care | Doc. SATU Indonesia Awards

With this spirit, Kredibali expanded beyond Pemuteran to other villages such as Puhu (Gianyar) and Batur (Bangli). Once the program proved effective in one area, new communities were invited to adapt and grow it.

Dika explained that the role of volunteers is not to offer constant assistance, but to foster self-reliance — empowering people to sustain themselves by making use of their own local wisdom and resources.

Together in action, lasting in impact

Kredibali teaches us that age is no barrier to contribution. At just 23 years old, Dika proved that young people can create real change by harnessing local potential and empowering communities.

Through Kredibali, he has embodied the spirit of sustainable living. i.e. strengthening local human resources, protecting the environment, and inspiring other regions across Indonesia to do the same.

If one Andika Wira Teja can inspire the youth of Pemuteran to dream and act through sustainable tourism, then there’s every reason to believe that many more young Indonesians can follow his path — building a brighter, greener future for the nation through compassion, community, and care for the environment.

Always passionate for harnessing local wisdom to shape the future | Doc. SATU Indonesia Awards

Dika’s movement, Kredibali, has created a powerful impact on the local community by improving children’s education and promoting sustainability during the pandemic. When students in Pemuteran struggled with online learning, Kredibali offered free English classes that not only strengthened their academic skills but also built confidence for future opportunities in tourism.

By exchanging plastic waste for lessons, the program taught environmental awareness and community care. This unique approach prepared the younger generation to support Pemuteran’s recovery as a sustainable tourist destination, proving that education and environmental responsibility can grow hand in hand for a better future. With this in mind, we can all move as one and make the impact last.

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