Knowledge Sharing for Visually Impaired through Youtube Channel

With a friendly, cheerful tone and a clear intonation, Sofyan Sukmana began to record his voice. That very morning, he was again creating his Youtube channel content (Dunia Netra) in relation with computer programming. Currently, his channel has reached 2.170 subscribers and has been monetized since January 2021.

Altough he had a visually impaired disability due to tumor during his teenager years, it did not stop Sofyan (34) from reaching out his potential. Previously, Sofyan has worked at CIMB Niaga as a sales marketing teller and at PT. Pelni, worked as a private tutor, and developed his own small business.

After Sofyan completed his bachelor's degree in Indraprasta University (Unindra) PGRI Jakarta, majored in Education Counseling, on February 2018, he set up an educational tutoring place named as Lentera Inklusif at Tzu Chi Great Love housing village in Cengkareng. This tutoring place was inspired by his past experiences when he studied computers for the blind, and he needed to travel two hours from Cengkareng, West Jakarta to Mitra Netra Foundation, Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta.

Photo of Sofyan when he was teaching his student, Faizin from Pekalongan.

“The computer knowledge I have learned is crucially important for the visually impaired disabilities. With this knowledge, I was able to work and went to college, which then inspired me to open a learning platform where the visually impaired disabilities who lived in Cengkareng or West Jakarta area to have a more accessible faciility.”, Sofyan said.

The study materials taught for them include Microsoft Office such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and internet basics. Upon the request of local residents, his tutoring place is also open for the general public that includes kindergarten, elementary, and junior high school students. His teaching tutors are mainly teacher’s assistant which also include his wife, Februari Anawati.

His start as a Youtuber

In the beginning, Sofyan created a Youtube channel as a forum to accommodate his teaching materials he shared with students. Unexpectedly, his Youtube channel was also well received by the visually impaired communities as it is useful for them.

From the process of determining the materials, making the step-by-step tutorials, recording the sound and images, typing the subtitles to uploading them to Youtube, Sofyan did it all by himself. “Coincidentally, it has been accessible with screen readers. I have watched several tutorials about it on Google and Youtube, so then I tried to apply it on my own channel,” he added.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indonesia, Sofyan has shifted to focus on his Youtube channel. He who previously had 50 students, had left with only 5 students left. “That feels like parachuting. I had free time on hand and thought what I really wanted to do it started there,” he explained.

During the pandemic, Sofyan was given an opportunity to teach online-based learning about the knowledge of computers and internet through a Bakti Kominfo, a program designed for visually impaired disabilities in Eastern Indonesia (Sumatra and Bali) by the Ministry of Communication and Information. Coincidentally, due to Sofyan popularity on his Youtube channel, many students from Bakti Kominfo positively responded by saying, “Oh, you are Sofyan from Dunia Netra channel, right?”

On the morning of Thursday, 12 August 2021, Sofyan was teaching online-based, aside from creating his Youtube content. There were a total of 10 students. One of his student name is Faizin, he is from Pekalongan, he just learned how to create an Excel table and felt satisfied learning from Sofyan. “Alhamdulillah, his explanation was easy to understand and the learning process was enjoyable. This class was fun, not boring and filled with jokes. Moreover, Sofyan’s words choices was digestable.” Faizin said.

Looking over Sofyan’s achievement ignites the curiosity on how he is able maintain his motivation to move forward. “I have a motto, don’t make limitations as obstacles, instead make limitations as a bridge to a better future,” Sofyan said. Another crucial point is to accept one self. Only then can life be lived with a feeling of peace.

Leo Kusno took the time to visit Sofyan’s Lentera Inklusif tutoring.

On one afternoon, while we were talking about Sofyan’s life motto, Leo Kusno, a Tzu Chi volunteer from West He Qi 1 community came to visit. During the care visit, Leo admitted that he was amazed by Sofyan.

“Sofyan is an amazing person. If the young generation have the same determination to always move forward like Sofyan, Indonesia will definitely be more advanced,” Leo Kusno said.

Sofyan expressed his feelings to Leo said that he will never forget the kindness of Tzu Chi and Dharma Master Cheng Yen towards him and his family. Tzu Chi has been supporting Sofyan since his eye surgery until this present time.

“My late father has once said to me, ‘Sofyan must strengthen your determination because many people support Sofyan. Sofyan must show that Sofyan can move forward’,” he said.