FT UMJ Students Become Head Of RT: Gen Z Can Also Work Real In Society

Sahdan, FT UMJ Student Becomes Head Of RT In Rawa Badak Selatan Village, Koja District, North Jakarta/ Photo: IST

Being the Chair of the Neighborhood Association (RT) is not an easy challenge. Social responsibility, citizen administration, to facing various differences in the environment makes this position more than just a formal position. What's more, if the role is carried out by the younger generation or commonly called Gen Z.

Sahdan Arya Maulana, a student of the Industrial Engineering Study Program of the Faculty of Engineering, Muhammadiyah University, Jakarta, managed to break the stigma. At the age of only 19 years, Sahdan was successfully elected democratically as Chair of RT 07 RW 08, Rawa Badak Selatan Village, Koja District, North Jakarta.

"Alhamdulillah, I won with 126 votes, while my opponent got 17 votes," he said during an interview on Monday, July 14, 2025.

He officially took office on April 25, 2025 and is now the new face of Gen Z's leadership in his environment. His term of office will last for five years, until 2030.

Public Response To Gen Z

When he first took office, Sahdan and his team received various responses from the surrounding community. Many provide support and there are also some who doubt the leadership of the Gen Z era.

"Some say Gen Z is lazy, can't work, or there won't be development," he said, smiling.

But he chose not to respond to the word. But he proved it with real action.

"Alhamdulillah, I have proven that in the past two months there have been road casting activities," he competed.

Real Program For Citizens

In the time his leadership, which has only been running for two months, he has succeeded in realizing road casting. The road casting, which had gone viral, did not use government funds but used contributions from local residents.

In addition to road casting, Sahdan also prepared several other programs such as sharing groceries ahead of Ramadan, installing CCTV at a number of points prone to theft, to purchasing sacrificial animals every Eid al-Adha. Not only that, he initiated social assistance of Rp. 200,000 for sick residents, and Rp. 500,000 for dead residents, complete with the provision of fire cloth, tombstones, to grave excavation costs.

He made this program by including the value of Muhammadiyah values such as social good and benefit ranging from citizen assistance, small economic empowerment, to fast service.

"Each resident only pays a fee of Rp. 10,000 per month allocated for aid funds for residents who are sick or dead, as well as for environmental security needs," he explained.

Sahdan added that the construction and other programs used funds from the Government's Operational Cost (BOP) of Rp. 2,000,000 per month.

"My principle is that humans are beneficial to others," he added.

Between Lectures and Leadership

Despite being busy with lecture activities, Sahdan chose not to participate in campus organizations in order to focus on his service in the community. In dividing the time between college and responsibilities as Head of RT, he was assisted by the secretary and treasurer who are also his age, namely Femas (20) and Rizky (21).

"I am active in the environment. So I'm afraid that if I join the set or Student Activity Unit, it won't be optimal in both," he said honestly.

He admitted that he learned a lot from UMJ students who actively held positions in various campus organizations. Through observations of their way of deliberating, organizing, and carrying out work programs, Sahdan then applied these values in his leadership in the community.

"I didn't come, but I learned a lot from them. They were my inspiration too," added Sahdan.

Becoming An RT Is Not The Final Destination

For Sahdan, being the head of the RT is a stepping stone. The next step he wants to join a political party and continue his education to a more relevant level to achieve his goal of becoming governor of Jakarta.

"My dream is to be governor of Jakarta. So this is the first step to prove that I am capable," he said.

He is currently studying higher education majoring in Industrial Engineering. He chose this step because he was running a small business.

"I want to deepen the business world first. But for master's degree, maybe it will go to political science," said Sahdan.

He hopes that his journey to become a leader can encourage more UMJ students to be active in society.

"Hopefully the campus can print more students who care about the environment. And hopefully the government will also start to see our real work below, which so far has not been touched by aid funds," he concluded.