Jakarta, July 28, 2006. Since 2001, Sampoerna Foundation has distributed more than 19,700 scholarships for students at the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. Since 2003, the distribution of funds to elementary, junior high and senior high school students has been done through Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI).

To ensure the continuation of this process, The Department of National Education (Departemen Pendidikan Nasional=DepDiknas), Sampoerna Foundation, and BRI have agreed to extend their collaboration in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Elan Merdy, Chief Operating Officer Sampoerna Foundation (SF), Sofyan Basir, Executive Director of BRI, and Prof. Suyanto, Ph D, Director General of Disdakmen for DepDiknas on the 19th Floor of the BRI Building I in Jakarta (July 28).
 
Over the past three years of transferring scholarship funds through BRI, the distribution of the scholarships to students throughout Indonesia has been quite effective. “BRI can reach all of the scholarship recipients, even at the district level throughout Indonesia, which is a truly exceptional service. Because of that, we are proud to be able to extend our cooperation for another three years,” said Elan Merdy after the signing.
 
With this transfer cooperation, which allows students to have a zero balance in their accounts, the students do not have to worry about their accounts being closed out. “They have a right to every rupiah that we send them in order that they will get a proper education,” Elan explained.
 
“We are also very thankful to the Department of National Education that has assisted SF in selecting students for scholarships at the elementary, middle and high school levels,” Elan said. These scholarship recipients are scattered throughout the 33 provinces of Indonesia, with many living in isolated districts and subdistricts. For that reason, an effective and efficient mechanism is required for distributing the scholarship disbursements. 
 
Sampoerna Foundation, DepDiknas, and BRI all hope that this cooperation will support more extensive access to education for students at elementary, junior high schools and senior high schools throughout Indonesia, even in the most far flung regions.