Elementary school teacher in Papua patiently teaches her male student how to answer a question
SOUTH PAPUA – Hundreds of civil servant teachers in Papua were reportedly not paid for four months, causing widespread struggles to meet daily needs and repay loans, including mortgages. Some even worked as construction crews or motorcycle taxi drivers to scrape by.
But things are better in Ngguti District, Merauke Regency. Collaboration between the local government and its stakeholders has made it possible for honorary teachers to enjoy their rights.
Part of this clever synergy is a locally-based palm oil company Dongin Prabhawa, which donates honorarium to dozens of educators via its education-oriented corporate social responsibility programs.
The amount of money given ranges from 700,000 IDR to 3.5 million IDR per month, said Dongin Prabhawa’s PR official Habibi. “We provide honorariums to [teaching] staff in the subvillages of Tagaepe, Salamepe, and Banamepe, who teach pre-school, elementary, and junior high students.”
The firm also offers assistance for learners pursuing higher studies in Merauke and out of Papua.
“We help local students with boarding facilities and equipment, meals, and transport. Most of them continue their studies at Musamus University, South Papua’s largest tertiary institution that’s in Merauke,” Habibi added.
To illustrate, Ngguti District and Merauke Regency are 141 km apart, connected only by a three-hour sail across the Digoel River and a seven-hour car ride through the Trans-Papua route.
Dongin Prabhawa’s support extends as far as Java Island, especially for those taking a chance at colleges like Stiper Agricultural Institute (INSTIPER Yogyakarta). “We’re aiding with the registration, boarding house fees, and many more for those going to INSTIPER. Regardless of whether they pass or not, at least we tried.”
To the Ngguti community, the company feels like a close neighbor, who despite the ups and downs in their relationship, remains a place to lean on.
“Dongin Prabhawa has definitely been a great help when it comes to healthcare and education [assistance], especially knowing how it has multiple times reached out to isolated villages,” said Samkakai clan chief Yohannis Samkakai in an interview with the PR team Tuesday (6/5).
Its other contributions include health services and projects related to infrastructure, environment, and economic development. “For us, what they [the company]’re doing is great. Our relationship with them is great as well.”
Through corporate social responsibility programs, or CSC, both the firm and local society have participated in an equal, constructive partnership. Dongin Prabhawa pledges to maintain and fight for this harmony by means of social initiatives that benefit both nature and people. (*)
