A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

Friends of PSF,

This month we are reminded of RA Kartini, the woman who brought change to Indonesia. The spirit of change inherited from Kartini is one of the reasons behind advances made in the name of emancipation. Although we cannot ignore the fact that the emancipation of women, that is, their liberation from religious, legal, and economic, their access to higher education, and their escape from narrow gender roles were not easily achieved. The struggle for gender equality has a long history and is likely to continue for some time.

Today, figures of great women are found in various professions. Various movements are initiated to support women's contribution to bringing change for a better Indonesia. One of PSF programs, Sahabat Wanita, contributes to addressing the issues surrounding gender equality and women empowerment especially in rural areas. With the support of various parties, Sahabat Wanita provides trainings on health, hygiene, nutrition, family planning, home economics, and legal services.

This month's edition of The Pathway, looks into Sahabat Wanita's partnerships with Telkom Indonesia and Deutsche Bank in providing trainings to improve women's knowledge and welfare.

PSF also announced a number of other partnerships and collaborations realted to the education pillar, that is, the launch of Acer Lab in Sampoerna Academy by Acer Indonesia, BNI Syariah collaborating with Sampoerna School of Business in Executive Development Program, and Trakindo's concrete steps to improve schools in Indonesia through PSF School Development Outreach.

PSF is also proud of the achievements of Koperasi Siswa Bangsa members, Ema Julian, who won as the second-placer in the Java Overland Vasities Essay Competition held at Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, and Muhammad ibn Husain Syafiq who will participate in the Jogja International Model United Nations Summit to channel youth aspirations.

Let's continue to make positive changes, continue Kartini's spirit to inspire more for the betterment of Indonesia...

Best Regards,
Dahlia Sardjono

Sampoerna Academy

Sampoerna Academy is part of the Sampoerna Foundation's Pathway to Leadership Grand Strategy. Through the provision of quality education, skills and character building, each school is expected to produce quality future leaders with sterling characters, capable of creating positive change for their communities and usher Indonesians to a state of preparedness in facing global challenges.

Acer Donation for Future Leaders Bogor, March 21, 2012 - Acer donated 20 units of PC and ACMs (Acer Classroom Manager) to Sampoerna Academy, Bogor Campus. The event was attended by representatives of Acer Indonesia, including Jason Lim, Acer Indonesia President Director. The event began with a Saman dance number by the Bogor Sampoerna Academy Saman Group. Subsequently, SA Bogor Executive Principal, Kevin Mauritson delivered a welcome address to all present.

During the event, Jason Lim underlined the defining feature of the ACM program that allows more optimal teacher and student interactions. With ACM, the teacher can immediately check the work of each student, leaving more time for class discussions. Acer Indonesia also gave a demonstration on using the ACM to Sampoerna Academy Campus Bogor. The event was marked by a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the entrance of the ACER Lab.

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Sampoerna School of Business

Sampoerna School of Business is a university-level international school of business which method of instruction focuses on ASEAN and entrepreneurship to create future business leaders.

BNI Syariah Collaborates in Executive Development Program Jakarta, March 26, 2012 - BNI Syariah made a breakthrough by organizing an Executive Development Program targeting participants comprising academics and practitioners from sharia financial institutions. The program is the result of its one-year collaboration with Sampoerna School of Business, which was signed by BNI Syariah Managing Director, Drs. Rizqullah, MBA, and Sampoerna School of Business Dean, Prof. Peter Hwang.

Out of the series of topics that was presented, the Executive Development Program's first session discussed Islamic Treasury and Liquidity Management. The first session was opened by BI Deputy Governor, Dr. Halim Alamsyah, at the Sampoerna School of Business campus. Also invited were competent and experienced speakers, namely Director of the Jakarta Futures Exchange, M. Bihar Sakti Wibowo, Director of BNI Syariah, Drs. Rizqullah, MBA, Bank Muamalat's Yudistia Brilliano and Senior BI Researcher, Dr. Rifki Ismal, as well as academician, Ashraf Ismail, PhD. Sampoerna School of Business and BNI Syariah will develop collaborations in other programs including collaboration in academic development for undergraduate and graduate degrees in Islamic finance and banking, professional development for practitioners of sharia banking, exchange of information on and knowledge of good banking operation practices through internships, on the job and in house trainings.

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Sampoerna School of Education

Sampoerna School of Education is the first teachers and education college in Indonesia at the undergraduate level which targets high-achieving students who can benefit from international-level higher education.

From Pancoran to New Zealand Auckland, New Zealand, March 19, 2012 - Two Sampoerna School of Education scholars, Ivan Aditia and Ulpan Dimas, embarked from their campus in the Pancoran area for Auckland, New Zealand to represent Indonesia in the Microsoft Partners in Learning Asia Pacific 2012. The event is a forum for educators to present their innovations and share experiences in the field of education.

Both Sampoerna School of Education students were invited as Innovative Educators, a reference to the participants, teachers or prospective teachers who have created a medium of learning by applying technology (ICT) in the classrooms to aid the learning process.

"I want to prove that video games can also be used as an alternative medium of learning for students at elementary school age and even secondary school age. I want to increase my knowledge and develop my skills in integrating ICT as a medium of learning, because one day I want to become an educator." Ivan revealed.

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Siswa Bangsa

Siswa Bangsa is a Putera Sampoerna Foundation initiative to provide the comprehensive means - including financial assistance - for the indigents to be able to access quality education.

Miss Merry, as she is fondly called, shared her experiences on how she struggled to achieve success as well as fully repay her education loan in Singapore only within 6 months after graduation. She is a living proof that hard work, prayers and perseverance will make all dreams come true.

Merry Riana is known as the author of best-selling books A Gift From A Friend and Mimpi Sejuta Dolar (Dare to Dream Big). She is also one of the best-selling motivational speakers in Asia including Indonesia and the head of Merry Riana Organization, a financial consulting organization.

In the seminar, Poetri revealed the importance of creativity in surviving the workforce. Poetri also gave tips on how to become creative teachers and entrepreneurs by encouraging participants to find out their passion and explore their own potentials. Nearly 200 students from SSE and SSB attended this interactive seminar.

In the seminar, Poetri revealed the importance of creativity in surviving the workforce. Poetri also gave tips on how to become creative teachers and entrepreneurs by encouraging participants to find out their passion and explore their own potentials. Nearly 200 students from SSE and SSB attended this interactive seminar.

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PSF-School Development Outreach

Putera Sampoerna Foundation - School Development Outreach (PSF-SDO) is a quality education development center that aims to improve the standard of quality of Indonesia's schools and educators so that it will be ready to face global challenges.

Trakindo's Concrete Steps to Improve Schools in Indonesia March 2012 - PT Trakindo Utama again demonstrated its commitment to education by continuing its collaboration with Putera Sampoerna Foundation's (PSF) School Development Outreach. This time around the collaboration is targeting 10 schools in 10 cities with two new primary programs. Manado, Pekanbaru, Samarinda, Pontianak, and Batam are assigned the Professional Development Program, while Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, Jakarta, Malang, and Palembang are assigned the School Development Program.

For the school development program, four kinds of school personnel enhancement were carried out, namely the development of school vision & mission, learning styles, school policy and curriculum mapping. The four enhancement topics form the basis for the schools to evolve into institutions that meet or even exceed national standards. The four schools visited by PT Trakindo Utama were SDN Sumbermanjing Kulon 01 (Malang), SDN Karang Joang 016 (Balikpapan), SDN Pelambuan 04 (Banjarmasin), and SDN 33 Banyuasin I (Palembang).

As for the faculty development program, the first training activity lasted for two days. Trainings included teacher leadership and peer coaching techniques. The entire series of programs is expected to facilitate a shift in local education paradigm shift in an effort to create a learning experience that is active, creative and student-centered.

PT Trakindo Utama hopes, through the trainings, that education in Indonesia will be able to produce reliable students capable of addressing global challenges in the future.

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Sahabat Wanita

Sahabat Wanita is engaged in issues related to gender equality and women's empowerment. With the support of various parties, Sahabat Wanita provides trainings on health, hygiene, nutrition, family planning, home economics, including legal services.

Telkom Indonesia Donates Computers and Women's Health Training Tangerang, February 23, 2012 - PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Tbk. donated five computers for the development of broadband learning center at Rumah Sahabat, a community training center established in Cisauk, Tangerang, Banten. In addition, several women at Bantar Kambing, Bogor, also received women's health training to improve their knowledge and welfare.

The collaboration is a manifestation of its corporate contribution to the empowerment of Indonesian women both socially and economically, so that they are able to play a role in supporting the welfare of their families.

The improvement of women's empowerment is necessary in the struggle for gender equality through training and empowerment, in order to create self-reliance among women. As Putera Sampoerna Foundation's strategic partner, Sahabat Wanita facilitates public enlightenment through the empowerment of women. Women are an important element in the creation of potentila future leaders.

Deutsche Bank's Achievements in the Empowerment of Indonesian Women

Jakarta, March 14, 2012 - Deutsche Bank and Koperasi Sahabat Wanita signed a cooperation agreement to provide vocational training for members of Koperasi Sahabat Wanita in creating recycled hand-made products out of rags. The training program will be held at one of the cooperative's facilities, namely its Community Learning Center, Rumah Sahabat, in Cisauk, Tangerang, Banten, which provides a range of vocational and entrepreneurship training for women living in rural and remote areas.

The Deutsche Bank collaboration is a manifestation of both companies' contributions to the empowerment of Indonesian women, both socially and economically, as well as introducing them to entrepreneurial activity that will allow them to take part in supporting the welfare of their families. The agreement was signed by Suresh L. Narang, Deutsche Bank Chief Country Officer, and Nenny Soemawinata, Managing Director of Putera Sampoerna Foundation.

"We are very optimistic that with the positive support of our partners, we can empower more women in Indonesia to achieve a life of quality," said Nenny Soemawinata.

Deutsche Bank is a leading global investment bank with a large private client franchise. A leader in the German and European markets, the bank continued to grow in North America, Asia and key emerging markets. With more than 1,000 employees in more than 74 countries, Deutsche Bank offers unparalleled financial services throughout the world. The bank strives to be the leading global provider of financial solutions, creating long term value for clients, shareholders, the public and the communities in which it operates.

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Bait Al-Kamil

Bait Al-Kamil Putera Sampoerna Foundation is a humanitarian agency that manages and distributes zakat, infaq, shodaqoh (ZIS) and humanitarian funds. Established on 1 April 2009 as initiated by Putera Sampoerna Foundation, Bait Al-Kamil was intended as a forum to increase community participation in providing social care and humanitarian assistance.

Helping Merapi Victims Get Back on Their Feet Sleman, March 13, 2012 - Indra Pradana Singawinata in his capacity as Head of Corporate Affairs for Putera Sampoerna Foundation, gave his account on the success of Bait Al-Kamil in helping people living at the Gondang I temporary shelter to rise beyond the ravages of the Merapi eruption. The program was funded by Bait Al-Kamil using tithing funds collected from Sampoerna employees. The program aims to improve the ability of local communities to drive the economy through the production of various snack foods made from raw materials found in the vicinity of Merapi, such as purple yam bakpia, instant ginger milk, tempeh chips, and banana chips. These products have successfully raised the welfare of communities affected by the Merapi eruption, particularly those residing at the Gondang I shelter in Cangkringan.

Since May 2011, Putera Sampoerna Foundation together with Bait Al-Kamil has set up the Kaliadem Sejahtera sharia cooperative to support various small-scale enterprises. The cooperative has 60 members, up from the original seven members, and will continue to expand its membership by recruiting from surrounding villages such as Jambu and Petung.

Indra Pradana Singawinata was welcomed by a number of government figures, such as the Regent of Sleman, Sri Purnomo, who was accompanied by the Sleman Water, Energy and Mineral Resources Agency (SDAEM) Head, Ir. Widi Sutikno, M.Si, Economics Section Head of the Sleman Provincial Secretariat, Ir. AAA Laksmi Dewi, MM, and Cooperatives Section Head, drs. Baker Zachrias Cornelis.

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Sushi-Ya

Entering the second year of cooperation between Sushi Ya and Save a Teen program, Sushi Ya will donate Rp 2,000 with every purchase of its 3-menu options to the Save a Teen program, at its three outlets in Jl. Tebet Utara, TIS Square Pancoran, and Gandaria City.