Tough personal circumstances did not dampen Gede Swardana’s enthusiasm for learning. Swar, as he is popularly known, is one of Amisewaka’s most promising students. Born 19 years ago in the fishing community village of Les (Tejakula – a district in the regency of Buleleng in northern Bali, Indonesia) he faced hard times from a young age when his father passed away and his mother remarried and relocated. Working hard became a way of life from a young age.
Since high school, he worked part-time as a janitor at an elementary school in Les. Early in the morning, while his friends were still asleep, Gede started work by cleaning every corner of the school. After completing this task, he returned home, showered, and got ready for a full day of school and studying.
After losing his father, Gede was raised by his uncle, following a straightforward lifestyle. Growing up without parents was not easy, and even though he worked hard, it was difficult to resist the negative influences in his environment.
Despite this, his strong determination to improve his future was seen when he continued his studies at Amisewaka-DLCC. Swar has benefited from the holistic approach adopted by Amisewaka. During the first six months of training on campus, he underwent numerous challenges and changes yet progressed admirably.
Diligence and hard work were Swar’s mainstays while attending his on-the-job training at one of the more well-known hotels in South Bali. He proved himself at the “hot kitchen” station, where he often proved to be a pillar of strength for his co-workers. His manager was very impressed with his performance, as his pride in his work shone through every time.
Having overcome many challenges from a young age, Swar never imagined that success would finally be in his grasp. Like all the 100 students in Amisewaka’s inaugural class, he has the strong will and opportunity to change his future. And he has.