“My Hearing Loss Isn’t the Barrier to My Dreams”
A Story of Alwi Maulana, Bangkit 2021 Graduate from Computer Engineering, Institut Teknologi Telkom Purwokerto “Over 5% of the world’s population–or 430 million people (including 34 million children)–require rehabilitation to address their hearing loss. It is estimated that by 2050, 1 in every 10 people will have disabling hearing loss.” - WHO (2024) The data above shows that some people are born with single-sided deafness (SSD), and Alwi Maulana (24) is one of them. He knows he can’t change that, but instead of giving up, Alwi refuses to let his limitations lock his true potential. Fueled by a relentless spirit to become tech talent, he discovered Bangkit, a program that could open the doors to many possibilities. However, Alwi found joining Bangkit challenging. The online lectures presented a barrier of information that left Alwi needing help to keep up. The frustration was immense, the fear of failure a constant companion. Yet, Alwi persevered, and finally, after 900 hours of relent