PHOTO: Three indigenous Papuan youth who received educational assistance from TSE Group celebrating their graduation at TSE Group Headquarters, Papua, Saturday (16/10)
BOVEN DIGOEL — Tunas Sawa Erma Group (TSE Group) held a graduation ceremony for three First Degree Diploma students from Oil Palm Maintenance Program of Plantation Community Academy of Yogyakarta Stiper (AKPY Stiper). The graduation procession, which is the fruit of cooperation between TSE Group and AKPY, was held in the TSE Group Office, Boven Digoel, Papua, on Saturday (16/10).
The three Papuans celebrating their graduation were Simon Gembenop, Juventus JD, and Antonius Aute. While Simon and Juventus came from PR TSE operational area, Antonius came from operational area of PT Berkat Cipta Abadi (BCA), which is a part of TSE Group’s subsidiaries. The three men managed to finish their studies due to the full support in the form of financial and material assistance provided by TSE Group.
The graduates were also accompanied by their respective parents/guardians. Representatives of TSE Group and AKPY Stiper were also present to congratulate Simon, Juventus, and Antonius.
The graduation procession was led by the Director of Integrated Planning Department (DPT) of TSE Group, Dwiana. As a symbol of graduation, he moved the tassels on the graduates’ caps to the other side.
Dwiana also expressed congratulations and a message of hope to the graduates who have successfully fulfilled their education in AKPY Stiper.
“I hope the knowledge you gained can be utilized and developed to the fullest. Also, thank you to the parents/guardians for raising high-achieving children,” he said.
In his speech, Dwiana also encouraged the graduates to continue to implement the soft skills they obtained during their study period. In particular, the disciplined manner, which is the key to be able to compete.
“Don’t let yourselves lose out to others outside Papua. With disciplined manner, we can achieve anything,” said Dwiana.
A deep gratitude was conveyed by Simon. Especially for TSE Group for giving him the opportunity to pursue higher education in AKPY Stiper.
“I hope I can be even better in the future and hopefully what I have obtained in college can be applied in my work in accordance with the subject studied,” Simon uttered.
Proud wishes and happiness were also expressed by the graduates’ parents.
“As a parent, I feel proud, and we are very grateful for the company for providing funds for our child to pursue education in Yogyakarta. I hope the children can use the knowledge they gained and apply it back here (TSE Group),” said Wihelmus, a parent of one of the graduates.
TSE Group’s support for Simon, Juventus and Antonius does not stop here. The company will directly hire them as workers in the operational area.
As noted, in the last three years, TSE Group has absorbed more than 2,400 indigenous Papuans (OAP) as labors. They are spread in various companies, from PT TSE, PT BCA and PT Dongin Prabhawa (DP), which all of them are engaged in the field of oil palm plantations and are operating in Merauke and Boven Digoel Regencies, Papua.(*)
