UNAIR NEWS – Expanding access to education and fostering economic growth have become the twin pillars of service for drg. Zahrotur Riyad. A graduate of Universitas Airlangga’s Faculty of Dental Medicine (FKG), she has dedicated more than 20 years to serving communities in the Galang Islands, Batam.
Known as Zahra, she has long gone beyond health-related initiatives, extending her work to education and community empowerment. For her, this commitment stems not from professional obligation, but from a personal calling to serve—regardless of ethnicity, religion, or social status.
“This is our duty as Indonesians, as stated in the Constitution’s preamble: to enlighten the life of the nation. That mission must move beyond seminars into real, tangible action,” Zahra said.
Opening doors to education
Though trained as a dentist, Zahra has sought to create a broader impact beyond dental care. Alongside addressing oral health issues, she launched scholarship programs for junior high, high school, and university students in 2018. Today, more than 40–50 students receive regular tuition support, and 10 have been funded to pursue higher education.
Funding comes from a network of volunteers across Indonesia and abroad, including in Qatar and Australia. “Every month we raise funds to cover tuition for junior and senior high school students, and every six months we collect money for 10 university students,” she explained.
Boosting local economy
In addition to education, Zahra initiated a sheep-farming project to empower local residents economically. The sheep are raised by villagers and sold during Eid al-Adha, with profits returned to the farmers and used to buy more livestock. “I hope this grows into something much larger and eventually expands into fisheries,” she said.
Years of service have given Zahra a deep emotional bond with the region. She recalls seeing extreme poverty—families living without electricity and far from access to education or technology—yet displaying remarkable resilience.
Her initiatives, especially scholarships, have received strong community support, with many parents and students eager to apply.
Catalyst for change
Zahra’s work has produced lasting change. She has helped lower rates of teenage pregnancy and childbirth, while enabling more young people from remote islands to continue their education at the university level. “There’s a light—maybe not as bright as 100 watts—but still a path for them to plan their future,” she said.
Her vision now is to expand scholarship programs so more children in remote areas can access quality education. She also hopes to realize her dream of establishing a floating hospital to deliver healthcare to island communities.
Author: Adinda Octavia Setiowati
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
