In December 2016, a group of Indonesian students, including several Tanoto scholars from the National University of Singapore traveled to the village of Desa Tambakrejo in East Java to take part in the Misi Kami Peduli (Mission We Care) project.
The project aims to boost ecotourism and raise the living standards in and around the village, in the spirit of community development that lies at the heart of Mr Sukanto Tanoto’s philosophy.
Partnering with community organizations to transform the local economy
Desa Tambakrejo is surrounded by mountains and lush greenery and is perfectly positioned for ecotourism. Inspired by Mr Tanoto’s four Cs – climate, country, community and company – the visiting students passed on several useful skills to the local community that will allow Desa Tambakrejo to become a sustainable success story.
In partnership with Yayasan Bhakti Alam Senadang Biru, a local organization, the student delegates from Mission We Care undertook several projects in the village. These include:
- Helping to build a 400m road along with residents
- Initiating Project “Setapak Jejak Untuk Konservasi” in order to boost ecotourism infrastructure
- Installed a solar-powered cooker – this will encourage locals to use green technology
- Playing educational games with local children and teaching them to do science experiments
- Providing English language training for a local tour guide and assisting with online marketing for the local ecotourism sector
A life-changing experience made possible by Mr Tanoto’s vision
Mission We care delegates were inspired by their visit and will cherish their memories of Desa Tambakrejo. In the words of project participant Steven Nilam, “I want to express our gratitude to the Tanoto Foundation, founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Sukanto Tanoto, for sharing our passion for the people of Indonesia and for supporting this project.
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