Ade P.

Ashoka Young Changemaker
Headshot of AYC Ade wearing a grey shirt on a nature background.
Indonesia
Elected in 2023

About Ade P.

Ade is improving literacy and confidence of the blind community through Braille Quran classes.

Ade lost his vision when he was only 10 years old, but that has not stopped him from continuing his passion for reading books and the Quran, currently using the Braille system. Growing up, he observed that only a small number of his peers who were visually impaired had the skill to read the Quran in Braille. In fact, 95% of blind Muslims in Indonesia were unable to read and write Hijaiyah Braille letters due to various reasons, such as late onset of blindness and lack of access to proper education. Concerned that other visually impaired individuals may not be able to enjoy the verses of the Quran, Ade and his friends, along with Kawan Netra (a community of sighted volunteers), organized regular Braille Quran classes. With the support of national donor organizations such as Dompet Dhuafa and Nurul Hayat, they have reached participants of various age groups in different areas of Surabaya. So far, the program, known as Gerakan Tunanetra Mengaji (GTM / The Blind Recitation Movement), has reached 261 participants, not only improving their literacy skills but also empowering the blind community to become more confident and independent in their lives.

Ade hoped to further develop GTM and introduce the concept of "changemaker" to his peers, particularly through the use of social media to encourage more initiatives from the disability community. He aimed to familiarize his friends with this term and inspire them to recognize their own potential as changemakers in their unique ways.