Photo: A village leader in South Halmahera signs the scholarship fund handover report before a GMM representative. Later, the money will be given to the young beneficiaries via their parents or guardians
HALMAHERA – Manado, Ternate, and Bacan Island are key educational destinations for residents of South Halmahera, a province in North Maluku. Each year, dozens to hundreds of local students flock to these regions in search of colleges.
Distance and access to transport play a huge role in this move. Now, young South Halmaherans can be found in the cities’ public and private universities.
But despite these factors, there’s no denying that going outside the island costs money. This being the case, many parents are expecting assistance for their children in the form of scholarships.
Recognizing this need, Gelora Mandiri Membangun (GMM) — an oil palm firm based in the province — disbursed financial aid to college-goers hailing from South West Gane Subdistrict.
“We hope our awardees finish well, improve their competitive edge, and finally become agents of change,” said GMM’s PR Officer Mahdi M.Nur at a recent scholarship handover involving parents and guardians of the scholarship recipients.
There were a total of 40 beneficiaries from various villages in South West Gane Subdistrict, like Yomen, Sekely, Inner Gane (Gane Dalam), Kurunga, Jibubu, Awis, and Yamli. Each student received the money from their parents or guardians, who attended the handover ceremony.
Photo: There are a total of 40 beneficiaries from various villages in South West Gane Subdistrict
One parent, Badaruddin, expressed his gratitude. “The company has given our village plenty of help, and this scholarship [further] shows that GMM cares.”
Gelora Mandiri Membangun’s scholarship program helps high-achieving and/or underprivileged students meet tuition fees and other study-related expenses to break financial barriers and continue their studies. (*)
