The Relentless Pursuit of Education

Yiga Shafiki had just finished his exam when we met at Kantin Danau, the cafeteria by the lake. He was sitting at a table, working on his homework, managing to stay focused despite the noise around him. 

As the cafeteria got louder, I suggested we move closer to the lake. Before we left, Yiga calmly left his laptop on the table. When I asked if he wasn’t worried about it, he just smiled.

“It’s okay, Indonesia is safe. I’m really enjoying it here, and I feel proud that I didn’t give up,” he said.

If there’s one thing that defines Yiga Shafiki, it’s his unyielding persistence. Most people would have given up after the first failure, Yiga faced failure not once, but twice in his quest for the KNB Scholarship. 

His first application back in 2021 didn’t go through because his diploma transcripts weren’t ready. He tried again in 2022, but this time the pandemic got in the way. His third attempt in 2023 proved to be the charm, and he was finally accepted.

“I’m proud that I always try. I may fail, but I never fail to try,” said Yiga.

Back in Uganda, scholarships like the KNB are rare and fiercely competitive. “In my year, KNB only picked 10 students for the bachelor’s program,” Yiga explained. Out of those ten, only two slots were allocated to Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, and Yiga was one of the fortunate few to be selected.

The KNB Scholarship is financial assistance offered by the Indonesian government to prospective international students from developing countries.

Yiga during the ITB summer camp for sustainable cities design.

The son of a retired civil servant and a stay-at-home mother, Yiga grew up in Kawempe , a neighborhood near Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. He described his hometown as the kind of place that gives you two choices: you either get swallowed by the streets, or you fight your way out. “It’s a place known for both crime and talent. A lot of famous musicians and athletes come from there. But also, a lot of kids end up in trouble,” Yiga said.

The 2nd-semester-student said he owes everything to his parents, especially his father. Growing up, whenever he worried about school fees or how they’d manage, his dad had one simple message: “You study, and leave the rest to me.” His father made sure Yiga never had to carry the weight of those worries. That became one of Yiga’s biggest motivations: to focus fully on school.

Before coming to Indonesia, Yiga had already built up solid experience in the technical field. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Kyambogo University with a focus on Mechanical Production and pursued a diploma in HVAC, Heating, Ventilation, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning.

After graduating, he spent three years working in the HVAC industry. But even with solid experience, he noticed a gap. He was doing more technical work than many of the engineers around him, yet they were earning much more because they had higher academic qualifications.

Today, Yiga is studying Electrical Engineering at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS). While different from his past field, it feels like a natural step. “Engineering is built on the basics of physics and math, so there’s a connection,” he explained.

His earlier work in HVAC had already given him a glimpse of electrical systems. “The mechanical side mostly covers the refrigeration cycle. But during installation and maintenance, it’s very electrical,” he said. Realizing this, Yiga decided to shift fields.

Now, he’s eager to dive deeper into automation, system design, and modern tech solutions. “There’s so much cool stuff to learn and create,” he said.

At first, Yiga and the other international students joined the Indonesian language program. But once he moved on to his major courses, the real challenges started. The stress began to build, but Yiga relied on the resilience he had developed over the years. Having faced tough academic environments before, he reminded himself that he could handle it.

Yiga winning the best Photograph challenge at Universitas Muhammadiyah Ponorogo summer camp.

“I rarely sleep these days. I study at night, attend lectures during the day, sometimes just three or four hours of sleep, then up again. It’s just deadline after deadline,” he laughed.

This semester has been the hardest for him, mainly because of the heavy load of lab works. Yet before this, he managed to maintain a strong academic record. “I got a good GPA, almost all A’s!” he said proudly.

One aspect Yiga deeply appreciates about UMS is the quality of the lecturers. “Most of my lecturers studied abroad. They speak good English, which makes communication much easier. Most of them are really good, and I’ve actually come to enjoy math here because the lecturer knows how to teach it so well.”

But Yiga’s life at UMS isn’t all about academics. He’s also passionate about football. “I’ve loved football since I was a kid. It was my way of staying out of trouble and away from negative influences,” he shared, reflecting on his childhood.

He joined his study program’s futsal team and on his debut went on to help them win 2nd place at the Dekan Cup, a university tournament. “It was such a proud moment for all of us. We trained hard and stayed united as a team,” he said.

Yiga (middle) representing the Electrical Engineering program during the award ceremony of the Dekan Cup.

Yiga also co-founded a football club for international students at UMS. The club not only serves as a space for sports but also as a bridge between cultures. “We come from different countries, but on the field, we’re one team. It’s a way to build community and stay active,” he said.

When the books are closed and the classes end, Yiga finds his peace in Solo. He likes how the city slows down after dark, locals sitting along sidewalks, strumming guitars, chatting, just being present. He often rides his motorbike through the quiet streets at night, using the stillness to clear his mind.

“Solo’s a calm place. You can walk around, day or night, and no one bothers you,” he said.  

When asked what he would tell other international students, his answer came without hesitation: Try and fail, but never fail to try. That, he said, is the mantra that carried him through three rounds of scholarship applications, and that same spirit is what keeps him going even when things get tough.

Yiga considers himself lucky, more fortunate than many people back home who weren’t able to chase the same dream. “Being here has taught me not just about engineering, but also gratitude. I don’t take this for granted, because I know how many others would give anything for this chance.”

Writer: Farizal Luqman Majid

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva

Designer: Salsabila Kamila Wardah