Sampoerna Agro collaborated with Putera Sampoerna Foundation (PSF) to renovate and rebuild elementary schools in two districts in Central Kalimantan. Under the program, Sampoerna Agro rebuilt classrooms, renovated school gates, built bridges to access school premises, built drainage or provided water pumps, built toilets and sports yards in six elementary schools in Sukamara district and five elementary schools in West Kotawaringin district.

“It is our hope that the aid will create a more pleasant atmosphere for students and teachers in the learning process to ensure maximum results. This program is the realization of Sampoerna Agro’s commitment to the local communities where we operate. Development of local communities is an important part of Sampoerna Agro’s operations. We are confident that this aid will support a rapid progress of education in Sukamara and West Kotawaringin districts and allow them to compete with other districts in Indonesia,” Sampoerna Agro Group Manager Bambang Budiyanto said.

The renovation and reconstruction program of 11 elementary schools in the two Central Kalimantan districts was part of the Education Recovery Program under PSF’s School Development Outreach program that covers various activities such as school rehabilitation and reconstruction, library renovation, environmental responsibility, book and computer aid.

The 11 elementary schools included in the program funded by Sampoerna Agro are the Swasta Perdana Elemetary School, SDN 1 Karta Mulia, SDN 2 Karta Mulia, SDN 1 Pudu Rundun, SDN 1 Natai Sedawak, SDN Sukaraja in Sukamara district, and SDN 1 Babual Boboti, SDN 2 Babual Boboti, SDN 1 Tempayung, SDN 1 Sumbermukti, SDN 1 Sumbermukti in West Kotawaringin district. In its implementation, the program involved and encouraged the communities around the schools to participate actively in increasing the quality of education in their areas.

The school renovation and reconstruction program is not an easy task, as it requires strong commitment from all parties including Sampoerna Agro, the district governments and school administrations. “We hope this support will continue as we believe that school rehabilitation should not end here but should be a continuous effort,” Putera Sampoerna Foundation Director of Sales Ari Kunwidodo said.

Sampoerna Agro is one of Indonesia’s palm oil producers with plantations in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The company’s main activity is to manage and cultivate oil palm and rubber plantations, produce palm oil, palm kernels, and oil palm seeds. Click here for more information on Sampoerna Agro.