What began with a single question at last year’s Jeju Forum came full circle this June when KDIS student Muhamad Solahudin Al Ayubi, who goes by Solah,  returned to the international stage, not as a participant, but as an invited speaker. 

Held from June 24-26, the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity brought together world leaders, policymakers, academics, business leaders, and civil society representatives under the theme “ Reinventing Cooperating in a Fragmented World.” Recognized as one of Asia’s premier platforms for international dialogue, the annual forum addressed some of today’s most pressing global issues, including geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and international cooperation. 

Representing Indonesia, Al Ayubi was invited to speak during the session “Entrepreneurial Ecosystems from Business Leaders in Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea.” The panel explored how entrepreneurship, local leadership, and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen regional development in the “glocal” era, where local initiatives increasingly connect with global opportunities. 

For Solah, the invitation was the result of an unexpected moment during the previous year’s forum. 

In 2025, he attended the Jeju Forum as Indonesia’s Youth Representative. During a World Leaders Session featuring former Slovenian President Danilo Türk, he asked a question about the growing uncertainty surrounding international law and whether international institutions were effectively translating global commitments into tangible outcomes. 

“After the session, some members of the organizing team approached me,” he recalled. “We had a great conversation, and apparently they remembered my question. A few months later, they contacted me and invited me back, not as a participant this time, but as a speaker.” 

Reflecting on the experience, he added, “I never expected that simply asking one meaningful question would lead to such an opportunity. It reminded me that sometimes speaking up with genuine curiosity can open doors you never imagined.” 

At this year’s forum, Solah shared the story of Sakola Kita, the youth-led nonprofit organization he founded in 2019. Established with the belief that every young person deserves access to opportunities for learning, leadership, and global engagement, the organization has grown into a nationwide initiative that has empowered more than 8,000 young people, organized over 40 educational and leadership programs, and collaborated with more than 60 communities and institutions across Indonesia and internationally. 

One of Sakola Kita’s flagship initiatives, Sakola Diplomasi, introduces young Indonesians to diplomacy, leadership, global issues, and cross-cultural exchange, encouraging them to become active contributors to solving today’s development challenges. 

His presentation, titled “Youth-Led Community Development in the Glocal Era,” emphasized that while globalization has created unprecedented opportunities, it has also presented new challenges for developing countries. 

“The question is no longer whether young people will be affected by globalization, they already are,”  Solah explained. “The real question is whether they will simply become consumers of global change or active contributors to shaping it.” 

Drawing on Sakola Kita’s experience, he demonstrated how communities can remain deeply rooted in local values while embracing global knowledge, partnerships, and opportunities. Above all, he encouraged participants to recognize young people as leaders and partners in development rather than merely beneficiaries of policy. 

“When we invest in youth leadership and create spaces for collaboration across borders, we are not only preparing future leaders, we are empowering today’s changemakers.” 

One question from the audience particularly resonated with him. A participant asked how he manages to lead a growing nonprofit organization while pursuing a full-time master’s degree at KDI School. 

“It made me realize that these two parts of my life actually strengthen each other,” he said. “What I learn in class doesn’t stay in  the classroom. Whether it's development theory or policy analysis, I immediately apply those lessons to Sakola Kita.” 

He explained that many of the organization’s training curricula, program designs, and long-term strategies have been strengthened through concepts learned in the Master of Development Policy program. 

“Before coming to KDI, I was passionate about creating impact,” Solah reflected. “But KDIS taught me how to make that impact more strategic, evidence-based, and sustainable.” 

Courses in international development, climate change economics, policy analysis, and quantitative methods have provided practical frameworks that he now integrates into Sakola Kita’s work. He often describes the organization as his “living laboratory,” where classroom theories are tested, refined, and implemented through real community projects. 

Looking back on his experience at the Jeju Forum, Solah hopes other students will pursue similar opportunities without waiting for the perfect moment. 

“Don’t wait until you think you’re ready,”  he advised. “Apply first, prepare seriously, and be yourself.” 

He believes international forums offer far more than knowledge alone. 

“Some of the opportunities I’ve received, including becoming a speaker at the Jeju Forum, came from conversations and connections that started in those spaces.” 

His final message reflects the journey that brought him from a participant in the audience to a speaker on the international stage. 

“Never let where you come from define how far you can go,” he said. “I come from a small village in Indonesia, and if someone had told me a few years ago that I would one day speak at an international forum alongside leaders from different countries, I probably wouldn't have believed them. So be curious. Ask questions. Start conversations. You never know what opportunity is waiting on the other side of one courageous moment.” 

For KDI School, Solah’s participation at the Jeju Forum reflects how students are extending their learning beyond the classroom. By contributing to international policy discussions and sharing firsthand experiences in youth leadership and community development, he exemplifies the global engagement and practical impact that KDI School encourages among its students.