“Global Santri Fest 2024” Invites Islamic Boarding School Students (Santri) to Study in the United States

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA), in collaboration with youth-led organization Santri Mengglobal, will host the Global Santri Fest 2024 at @america in Jakarta on May 11, 2024, from 10:30 to 15:00 WIB.  The festival will offer practical information for Indonesian Santri aspiring to pursue education in the U.S. through scholarships.

“Access to quality education is a fundamental right for every young person.  The Global Santri Fest demonstrates our commitment to supporting Indonesian youth, providing them with broader opportunities to access top-quality education.  Through scholarships, Indonesian youth can find a pathway to education in the United States,” notes Farhad Ghaussy, the Director of Economic Growth and Education of USAID Indonesia.

At the Global Santri Fest 2024, students and other attendees will learn about various scholarships available for studying in the United States, such as the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) program, MORA Overseas Student Mobility Awards (MOSMA), Islamic School Endowment Fund, Indonesia Bangkit Scholarship, Ulama Cadre Education Istiqlal Mosque, Female Ulama Cadre, and the Humphrey Fellowship Program.  In addition to scholarship details, the Fest offers talkshow and one-on-one sessions covering U.S. university admission requirements, writing personal statements, and other essential steps to secure scholarships.  Alumni from U.S. universities will also share insights into cultural considerations, living expenses, and post-graduation prospects.

“Global Santri Fest is a special program designed for pupils and students, particularly those from the Indonesian Santri community.  Its purpose is to explore educational opportunities in the United States.  We aspire for this event to not only offer valuable information but also to inspire Indonesia’s young generation to pursue their educational dreams at U.S. universities,” says Dito Alif Pratama, Founder of Santri Mengglobal.

Through the USAID Technical and Management Support to the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (USAID TEMAN LPDP) program, USAID collaborates with Indonesian scholarship providers, including MORA, to enhance Indonesian students’ success in getting scholarships to the United States.  USAID provides technical assistance to Indonesian scholarship providers and facilitates collaboration with U.S. universities.

Any student interested in pursuing higher education study in the United States can receive free advising services through EducationUSA Indonesia.  EducationUSA advisers share information about resources and tools to help students navigate the five steps to U.S. study: researching schools, identifying financial aid opportunities, completing applications, obtaining a student visa, and preparing for departure.  There are EducationUSA advising centers in Banda Aceh, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Malang, and Makassar.  For additional information about EducationUSA or studying in the United States, please visit www.educationusa.state.gov.

For more information, visit http://indonesia.usaid.gov/ or contact USAID Development Outreach and Communications Lead Swiny Andina at +62 (21) 5083-1000 or sandina@usaid.gov.