PT PP London Sumatra Tbk and Indonesia Heritage Foundation: Semai Benih Bangsa School of Character

The partnership between PT PP London Sumatra Tbk (Lonsum) and Indonesia Heritage Foundation (IHF) was conducted between 2007 and 2011 in developing the kindergarten and primary school of Semai Benih Bangsa (SBB), located in Lonsum plantations in North Sumatra, South Sumatra, West Java, East Java, East Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, and South Sulawesi. The SBB school’s program aimed at improving the quality of education for children between 5 to 12 years old who lived in the surrounding areas of Lonsum plantations by applying Pendidikan Holistik Berbasis Karakter/Character-based Holistic Education (CBHE) method. The program was implemented for non-profit community-based kindergartens and state elementary schools.

The main activities of this program were training SBB kindergarten and elementary schools’ teachers in applying CBHE curriculum and providing assistance to already established SBB schools. Lonsum and IHF divided the main activities into two stages: (1) setting up a pilot SBB school in each plantation site as a benchmark, and (2) setting up more of SBB schools based on the pilot standards. Lonsum’s contribution was identifying the schools to participate the SBB program and funded the training packages, which comprised of CBHE modules, education game tools, reference books on character building, and the school signs. IHF contributed in developing the SBB school concept and CBHE curriculum, training, coaching for SBB pilot schools and teachers.

This partnership successfully organized 9 training courses for 150 SBB teachers; developed 66 SBB kindergartens and 9 SBB elementary schools across all project sites, offered education for 3,000 children per year. SBB also made a positive impact on mother and child health in preventing infectious diseases. On the other hand, SBB presented a positive image of the company and also built great demand by the children of Lonsum employees.

Lonsum and IHF would continue to collaborate in overcoming challenges, including providing training funds, selecting schools and teachers, in remote locations. Lonsum and IHF hoped that SBB schools could become more independent and sustainable, and supported by community itself in the future.