Bhrisco Jordy, A Guiding Light from Mansinam Island

PAPUA: A small blue rental boat carrying a group of teenagers was sailing peacefully across the sea. These young people, confidently making their journey towards one of the outermost islands in eastern Indonesia, could be heard laughing and singing together to the beautiful tune of a ukulele, with the sound of the wind and the wave in the background.

They are in high spirits despite the scorching sun, on a mission to reduce illiteracy among children in Mansinam Island and other remote areas of West Papua as volunteers of the Papua Future Project.

Located about six kilometers from Manokwari District, Mansinam Island is a natural wonder with its pristine and breathtaking hills, beaches, and underwater scenery. The island is also a famous tourist destination for its historical values and strong traditions. But behind it all, children on the island of fewer than 800 inhabitants still lack access to educational resources.

To address this problem, Bhrisco Jordy Dudi Padatu initiated a project-based youth group called the Papua Future Project, which focuses on introducing literacy skills and tutoring illiterate Papuan children in the borderline frontier, the outermost and underdeveloped (3T) regions.

“Education is fundamental in improving the quality of human resources. Through the Papua Future Project, we want to provide equal opportunities for children to access education and reduce illiteracy rates in indigenous communities in West Papua for the advancement of Papua in the future,” said Jordy.

Since its establishment in 2020, Papua Future Project has consistently taught children not only basic skills like counting, reading and writing but also topics such as health, the environment, personal development and climate change. The curriculum is contextual, using materials that relate to their daily lives and local values. The lessons are fun and playful so as not to overwhelm the children.

With the motto “Every Child Matters,” Jordy and his Papua Future Project team aim to give children in Papua inclusive access to education and health. They volunteer to tutor children weekly for free. They also expand their reach to other remote areas in Papua, where they set up reading corners and donate books to promote literacy in villages.

The Papua Future Project program has reached 13 villages and 700 children in West Papua and Southwest Papua provinces, with the help of 250 volunteers and young people from all over Indonesia who joined online or in person.

These contributions to the community made Jordy, who has had a passion for education since high school, selected as the winner of the 2022 Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards in the Education category from Astra.

Jordy’s next plan is to make Papua Future Project a training center for young Papuans who want to develop education in their areas. He wants to teach them about community development, curriculum and advocacy so they too can provide better and more inclusive education for local children in the future.

Astra’s commitment to appreciating the country’s young changemakers for Indonesia’s present and future aligns with Astra’s mission to prosper with the nation while supporting Indonesia’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For more information, please contact:
Boy Kelana Soebroto
Head of Corporate Communications
PT Astra International Tbk
Ph. 021-508-43-888

About Astra:

PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.

Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business divisions: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, 5) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.

Astra Group conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of more than 240 companies, including subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, and was supported by more than 188,000 employees, as of December 2021.

As one of the largest national business groups in Indonesia today, Astra has built a strong reputation through offering a range of quality products and services, taking into account the implementation of good corporate and environmental governance. Astra always aspires to be the pride of the nation that participates in efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Astra’s business activities strive to apply a balanced mix in the commercial aspects of business and non-business contributions through 9 foundations and a variety of sustainable social responsibility programmes, namely Astra Untuk Indonesia Sehat, Astra Untuk Indonesia Cerdas, Astra Untuk Indonesia Hijau and Astra Untuk Indonesia Kreatif.

Astra initiated the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards programme, which has entered its eleventh year, and has given recognition awards to 493 young Indonesians, consisting of 81 national level recipients and 412 provincial level recipients in the fields of Health, Education, the Environment, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which are integrated with Astra’s wide range of community activities through 133 Kampung Berseri Astra and 930 Desa Sejahtera Astra initiatives in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

For further information, please visit www.astra.co.id & www.satu-indonesia.com, and follow Astra through Instagram (@satu_Indonesia), Youtube (SATU Indonesia), Facebook (Semangat Astra Terpadu) and Twitter (@satu_Indonesia).