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The group of ojol drivers uniting to help the less-fortunate
For some, charity means spending excess wealth but a group of philanthropic app-based motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers have taken charity to another level in their pursuit of selflessness.
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With the support of anonymous donors, GOT managed to provide free swab tests for drivers and surrounding residents. (Muhamad Liam) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Muhamad Liam)
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or some, charity means donating excess wealth, but a group of philanthropic app-based ojol (motorcycle taxi drivers) have taken charity to another level in their pursuit of selflessness.
Edwin Firmansyah, a 40-year-old ojol driver from Madiun, East Java, earns Rp 100,000 (US$7.02) to Rp 125,000 on average per day, but that has not stopped him from recently donating more than half a dozen Qurans and 15 kilograms of rice to an orphanage.
He shared how to reach this income target, it took him "about 10 to 15 orders.” For offline orders, meaning unofficial orders made outside the application, it only took two to three. “I use the revenue from my offline orders for charity, while the tips from customers are saved for my son," said Edwin. "An acquaintance told me that the orphanage he manages needed several new Qurans. It so happened that I had plenty of offline orders."
In addition to his wife and only son, Edwin also provides for his mother and parents-in-law. However, Edwin's family has never once complained about Edwin's charity work. In fact, they actively help him in his cause.
He said that his wife helped him. “My family is very supportive. They often add to the fund," said Edwin. "There are also some friends and relatives who entrust [their alms] to me as well."
Edwin is just one among many green-jacketed philanthropists. Rendy Pamungkas, a 32-year-old ojol driver from Central Jakarta manages an unofficial Gojek community account, @GojekOnTwitt (GOT) along with three other riders — Agus Mahesa, Muhamad Liam and Firman Lazuardy. The Twitter-based community conducted free COVID-19 tests in July with the help of anonymous donors.
