Since 2006, Tanoto Foundation, an independent family philanthropy organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, has collaborated with IPB University to develop future global leaders through leadership and scholarship program. Through a program called TELADAN, Tanoto Foundation aims to produce leaders who are also able to face challenges by involving participants in various soft skills training, internships and apprenticeships, community development programs, as well as activities which develop collaboration and networking skills. Todate, more than 500 students from IPB have benefitted by this program.
As part of collaboration with IPB University, in 2015, Tanoto Foundation established Tanoto Forestry Information Center (TFIC), a centre of information on forestry that will hopefully be utilized by researchers, academics, and university students in Indonesia, Asia, and the world in general. Within the three-storey building that is as large as 1500 m2, there is access to international journals on forestry studies that simultaneously complete the collections of IPB University.
Working with IPB, Tanoto Foundation also supports growth in applied research in Indonesia through Tanoto Student Research Award (TSRA) since 2007.
In collaboration with Community Partnerships for Health Indonesia (CCPHI), Tanoto Foundation, an independent family philanthropy organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, facilitated the 34th Partnership Forum on 22 February 2017. This event was hosted by the Tanoto Foundation, featuring Community Based Partnership to Improve the Quality of Education in Rural Area, a partnership between Tanoto Foundation and Elementary School (SDN 169/V) Cinta Damai.
In this Partnership Forum, SDN 169//V Cinta Damai explained the partnership between school, community and Tanoto Foundation, which all give the contribution to improve the quality of education in Cinta Damai Village, Tanjung Jabung Barat, Jambi. This partnership is unique because Tanoto Foundation took the role as an enabler for the school to build multiple partnerships with other stakeholders, including the local government and the village cooperatives.
This Partnership Forum was attended by 56 participants from 8 companies, 19 NGOs, 2 educational institutions and 2 associations. Ananta Gondomono, Partnership Building Officer – CCPHI facilitated the discussion following the presentation.
Being a participant of Tanoto Foundation’s Leadership Program (TELADAN Program), or a Tanoto Scholar, has been an invaluable experience. I was a Tanoto Scholar from 2011 to 2015, when I was majoring in Management in the Faculty of Economics and Business at Gadjah Mada University (UGM). I was given many opportunities during this time, and I am still reaping TELADAN’s benefits now even when I’m part of the professional workforce.
I am currently working as an Education Policy Specialist at the Papua Desk at the National Development Planning Agency or BAPPENAS. My responsibility is to help implement a national action plan to accelerate Papua’s education progress as stated in the President Decree No. 9/2017. I also monitor and identify challenges to the program, and subsequently develop recommendations for policies to be implemented in accelerating the quality of education in Papua.
At BAPPENAS, my job requires me to collaborate with numerous stakeholders, from ministries to regional governments. It would be challenging to do this, if I did not understand collaboration and lacked the ability to work in a team. In this regard, I feel that I strongly benefitted from the leadership training I received as Tanoto Scholar, which had a strong emphasis on strenghtening teamwork abilities.
Another skill I gained from being a Tanoto Scholar was the ability to build networks. From the time I started studying at UGM, I began building networks with my fellow Tanoto Scholars as well as people I met at the various conferences I attended. Attending conferences is one of my hobbies, and I find that forming networks tend to lead me to other achievements.
Having a broad network exposes me to a range of useful information I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. It’s through network information and recommendations that I managed to participate in the 2015 Young Leaders of Indonesia Program, and went on to become a delegate member of the Australian National University-Indonesia Gifted Researchers Program.
These experiences in turn proved to be a useful asset when I joined BAPPENAS. Working to create positive change in society has always been something I’ve dreamed about since I started university.
When I work on a work-study trip (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN) in Lombok, I saw that education in the region is far behind of that which I enjoy in my hometown of Yogyakarta. During that trip, I witnessed the fact that in West Nusa Tenggara, some 1,700 children are not able to continue their elementary and junior high school education.
From there, I resolved to be involved directly in work which would create solutions to problems in Indonesia. Working in BAPPENAS is a way for me to move Indonesia forward. It’s also in line with the ‘pay it forward’ concept which encourages Tanoto Scholars to pass along good deeds to others in need.
—
Tanoto Foundation is an independent family philanthropy organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981.
