Joko Widodo

Biography
Oleh : Moch Rizki Alfian (08)
Rachmat Fachrurrozi (18)

Joko Widodo is the current President of Indonesia serving in this position

since October 2014. There was some controversy involved during the presidential
election in mid-2014 though eventually he was declared the winner of the election
by the General Elections Commission. Thus he assumed office as the 7th President
of Indonesia after having held several other positions in the Indonesian
administration. Born into a poor family in the city of Surakarta, Widodo faced his
share of struggles as a member of the underprivileged section of the society.
Because of the familys dire financial situations he had to start working as a young
boy to support his family and to pay for his own education. Hard working and
intelligent, he studied hard and graduated with a degree in forestry engineering
from the prestigious Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. Eventually he entered
politics and was elected to the position of governor of Jakarta. He proved to be very
popular among both the urban and rural sections of the society, and rose through
the ranks, eventually getting elected as the President. He commands great respect
from the citizens since he is perceived as a clean and principled politician who
understands the problems of the common people.

Childhood & Early Life

He was born on 21 June 1961 Surakarta, Indonesia, to Noto Mihardjo and

Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo. He has three younger sisters. His family lived in illegally
built shacks and was often evicted from their dwelling by the government.

He received his primary education from the State Primary School 111, Tirtoyoso,
which was a school especially meant for the poorer sections of the society. He also
started working in his fathers furniture workshop when he was 12 in order to
earn money to buy school supplies. In spite of all his difficulties he performed well
at school.
After completing his high school he enrolled at the Forestry Faculty of Gadjah
Mada University where he studied the structure of wood, its utilization, and its
technology. He graduated in 1985.

Major Works

After becoming the governor of Jakarta, he introduced a universal health care

program, based on Healthy Jakarta Card. The scheme proved to be very popular.

Awards & Achievements

He was honored with the Bintang Jalasena Utama, 1st Class ("Navy Meritorious Service
Star") in 2011 by the Government of Indonesia.

He was honored with the 1st Class "Star of the Republic of Indonesia" (BRI), Bintang
Republik Indonesia Adipurna in 2014.

He was once ranked as the third best mayor in the world by the international City Mayors
Foundation.

Personal Life & Legacy

He is married to Iriana and has three children: two sons Gibran Rakabuming Raka
and Kaesang Pangarep, and one daughter Kahiyang Ayu.