Social Sustainability

Education

  • Our sustainability goal...

    Enable access to meaningful education & training for employees & local communities.


    The delivery of quality education in remote, rural areas of Indonesia is impacted by several factors including poverty, isolation and insufficient or low-quality educational services. 

    Isolation plays a significant role in this challenge with communities often finding it difficult to attract or retain qualified teachers. Students seeking tertiary education face the challenge of traveling long distances or relocating away from the support of family and community.

  • Poverty can result in families having to prioritise children working over seeking on-going education or lack funds to support school attendance which requires materials and resources. Of the children in Indonesia not receiving an education, children in rural and remote areas comprised 70% of this figure.  (Improving education in rural areas of Indonesia. The United Nations Children’s Fund and The Ministry of National Education, Republic of Indonesia.)

    We’ve been committed to supporting and advancing education within neighbouring communities for the past ten years. Through a combination of projects and programs, we provide financial scholarships, donate educational materials and resources, and construct student accommodation. Additionally, we work to attract and retain teachers in the area, ensuring the continuity and quality of education for students.

    Read more about some of our education focused impact projects and the long-term benefits of scholarships with Yusak's sucess story below...

Impact Projects

  • Scholarships


    Our educational scholarships are one of our longest-running sustainability programs, supporting local families at all of our farming locations. This program aids families who meet low-income criteria, providing assistance at all levels of education. Recipients are selected by the local government based on academic achievement.

    Scholarships can include financial contributions for school fees and charges, necessary materials and supplies, living costs during studies, and, in some cases, accommodation for students relocating for tertiary education.

    In FY 23, we awarded 194 scholarships across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. In FY 24, the number of scholarships increased to 213 students.

    This project supports the following UNITED NATIONS Sustainable Development Goals:

    4. Quality education
    5. Gender equality
    10. Reduced inequalities

  • Accommodation


    Student Accommodation

    In areas like Alyui, students who wish to pursue tertiary education often need to relocate to Sorong. To support these students, the company has launched several accommodation initiatives, providing housing close to the university. The company has constructed or acquired three separate buildings specifically for student accommodation.

    Teacher Accommodation

    Attracting and retaining teachers in remote areas is crucial for providing quality, ongoing education to local children. To achieve this, the company has supplied building materials and labor to improve teacher housing, making it more appealing for teachers to stay long-term.

    This project supports the following UNITED NATIONS Sustainable Development Goals:

    1. No Poverty
    3. Good Health & Well-being
    4. Quality education
    11. Sustainable Cities & Communities
    17. Partnerships for the Goals

  • Mutiara Kids


    Significant disparities exist in Indonesia's education infrastructure between urban areas and remote regions, directly impacting on the quality of education received by children living in these areas. Some issues include difficulty in attracting and retaining high-quality teaching staff, limited teaching resources and outdated curriculum. The Company has developed the Mutiara Kids program, which delivers diverse knowledge taught in English through engaging and enjoyable concepts.

    This project supports the following UNITED NATIONS Sustainable Development Goals:

    4. Quality education
    9. Industry, innovation & infrastructure
    17. Partnerships for the Goals

Sustainability Success Stories

Yusak Lapon'Ayello. Bringing education back to his village...

Growing up in a small, remote village where quality education was scarce, Yusak witnessed firsthand the struggles that children faced in accessing even basic learning. His village often lacked teachers, and the schools were under-resourced, leaving many young students without the support they needed to thrive. It was these challenges that ignited Yusak’s passion for education and set him on a path to pursue a degree in teaching.

"In our village, access to good education was very limited, and we often didn’t have enough teachers," Yusak explains. "Seeing how difficult it was for the children to get a proper education inspired me to study in the field of education. I wanted to make a real difference."

Supported by a scholarship from Atlas Pearls, Yusak was able to attend university, specializing in language education. "The scholarship allowed me to focus fully on my studies. Without it, I would’ve had to find a side job to help cover my costs," Yusak shares. "It gave me the freedom to dream bigger."

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