Apart from ASTRO’s various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, the Group also supports various educational and other community initiatives in the region through foundations like the Inter Community Welfare Foundation and the Malaysian Community and Education Foundation. 

The BEASISWA ASTRO ASIH Program is expected to benefit up to 725 high school and 160 undergraduate students in Bali. Scholars under this inaugural programme will also be mentored throughout the term of their scholarship, and given internship opportunities with ASTRO and related or partner companies to provide them with exposure and training with established commercial organizations.
 
The provision of scholarships is a way of expressing ASTRO and the Group’s desire to advance education in Indonesia. Rohana said that education is the most basic way to improve the prosperity of a people. “Throughout the Group, we believe that education will improve the quality of every individual’s life, so that people can build a better future for themselves, their families, their communities, and their country. The challenge is to identify and support these students from an early age. The Group has always taken an active role in the development of our scholars. Over the years, we have worked with various foundations and institutions regionally and are delighted to work with the Sampoerna Foundation in our inaugural programme in Indonesia. The Sampoerna Foundation is a very highly regarded and established organization, with the experience and excellent infrastructure on the ground to help us achieve our goals. We are grateful to work with a foundation that shares our objectives in providing upliftment through education".  

ASTRO would also like to thank the Sampoerna Foundation for bringing to its attention the opportunity to assist in Bali. ASTRO is starting with Bali and also looking at other programmes in Java and Sumatra. In partnership with other such foundations, ASTRO plans to support up to 5,000 students over the next 3 years and up to 10,000 students over the next 10 years throughout Indonesia.  ASTRO wants to ensure that these deserving high-school, university and post-graduate students are provided with the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

Elan Merdy, Chief Operating Officer of the Sampoerna Foundation agreed. “Even though Bali is the second ranking region in Indonesia in terms of welfare, in terms of the capability to complete school, the Balinese rank much lower. At this time, Bali records as many as 125,809 school-age (6-18 years old) children from poor families. These needy school-age children are quite likely to drop out of school before earning the desired diploma because they cannot afford the cost of education,” Elan explained.

“Actually, the Bali provincial administration has made concerted efforts to advance the education sector. This can be seen by the Bali administration’s commitment to allocating Rp 2.5 billion from it education budget for the provision of scholarships to 6,300 elementary and junior high school students. However, the Bali administration’s focus remains on the first nine years of basic education, grade through middle school, which high school and university level schooling has yet to become a priority, and needs to have the attention of all parties. This is why actions by various parties, including ASTRO’s scholarship program, constitute meaningful steps for the advancement of education in Bali,” Elan said.

Elan also said that the Sampoerna Foundation was honored to have been selected by ASTRO as its partner in efforts toward improving access to education in Indonesia. ”The Sampoerna Foundation is very proud to be ASTRO’s partner in the initiative to increase access to education in Bali,” commented Elan. ”Bali itself is a province with close ties to the Sampoerna Foundation. We have a lot of family here; more than 350 scholarship recipients from elementary through high school, with 5 scholarship recipients in Strata 1 university programs, and 1 in Strata 2 in Bandung, Yogayakarta and  Surabaya, as well as 1 scholarship recipient now in the MBA program at UCLA in America. Sampoerna Foundation is also developing a model school in Bali at SMAN 4 in Denpasar, which is showing consistently improved performance,” added Elan.

About ASTRO
ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc is the region's leading cross-media operator with Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite television services in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. It is also the leading commercial radio broadcaster in Malaysia, a major publisher of TV guide and lifestyle magazines and the largest buyer and producer of TV content, as well as the country’s premiere Malay film producer. The strength of these complementary brands has extended into interactive and multi-media services, including provision of content for mobile devices.

About Usaha Tegas
Usaha Tegas is an investment holding company with control equity positions in entities in the following sectors: Telecommunications, Broadcast & Media, Energy (Power, Oil & Gas), Commercial Property Development, Exhibitions & Event Management and Leisure & Entertainment. 

About Astro Asih
Astro Asih is a cooperative forum between Astro in Indonesia and the community for the improvement of education and health in the community. One of the activities carried out through the Astro Asih program is the Mobile Child Service, which assists child victims of the earthquake in Yogyakarta. Besides this program Astro Asih also assists the rehabilitation of victims of flooding in Jakarta.