Photo: By helping young Papuans access BPDP’s scholarship program, TSE Group demonstrates its commitment to building capable individuals
BOVEN DIGOEL – Two South Papuan locals, Cosmas Kinema and Yulius Mambi, have made the cut for BPDP’s scholarship program this year. This means they are able to pursue higher education at the Yogyakarta Agricultural Community Academy (AKPY-STIPER).
Kinema was accepted into the Oil Palm Maintenance program, while Mambi was admitted to the Oil Palm Processing program. AKPY-STIPER focuses on plantation development, specifically that of oil palm plantations.
In their journey, they have been accompanied by Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group, which through Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) also provided full accommodation and essentials needed for their move to Yogyakarta. This initiative will continue throughout the study.
“I’m really grateful. I never imagined I’d get this kind of opportunity,” said Kinema on Thursday (10/1/2026). “Thank you, TSE Group, for making the journey easier from the very beginning, and thank you as well to BPDP for the full scholarship. After I graduate, I hope to contribute to my hometown through better, more sustainable oil palm management.”
Prior to the selection process, the company had stepped forward to ensure the students — both members of the local clans — were prepared. Efforts spanned from offering moral support, conducting computer training, to providing college and dorm supplies once Kinema and Mambi passed. This work forms part of broader efforts to help scholarship awardees at TSE Group’s locations adapt to their new environment and excel in their studies.
Photo: Two boys from South Papua, Cosmas Kinema and Yulius Mambi, were this year’s lucky recipients.
“We’ve always been supporting children of local clans in their pursuit of college,” said Daniel Sim Ayomi, TSE Group’s General Manager. “We hope that through this partnership with the Directorate General of Plantations at the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, these children can get proper education and be ready for employment.”
By helping young Papuans access the SDM Sawit program, the palm oil company demonstrates its commitment to building capable individuals. SDM Sawit, short for Beasiswa Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit (Oil Palm Plantation Manpower Development Scholarship), is run by BPDP, or the Indonesian Plantations Fund.
It fully funds students whose parents are oil palm farmers or have other livelihoods tied to the palm oil sector. SDM Sawit applies to academic programs ranging from one-year diplomas (D1) to bachelor’s degrees (S1) in oil palm plantation operations.
Besides Kinema and Mambi, other children have also benefited from TSE Group’s assistance, albeit for different scholarship schemes. Some of them are now graduates, and even work at companies including TSE Group — proving the company’s continuous support and tangible impact on communities.
The synergy between the private sector, the government, and fund management institutions is expected to create more changemakers from South Papua with the skills and readiness to drive regional development in a sustainable oil palm plantation sector. (PR)
