In celebration of Indonesia’s 73rd Independence Day, Perum Jamkrindo successfully carried out a series of BUMN Hadir Untuk Negeri (BUMN For the Nation) programs, including the Siswa Mengenal Nusantara (SMN) exchange program. Initiated by the Ministry of BUMN in 2015, the SMN program aims to instill a sense of pride and love for the country in high school students in Gorontalo.
Perum Jamkrindo, a state-owned credit guarantee company, was entrusted as the coordinator for the BHUN program in Gorontalo, with Perumnas as the deputy coordinator. As part of the BHUN initiative, 24 outstanding students from Gorontalo were selected to participate in a seven-day student exchange program to Lampung. The SMN program featured various activities to foster appreciation for Indonesia's diverse culture, natural resources, and the country’s natural beauty.
Perum Jamkrindo’s President Director, Randi Anto, explained that the SMN program offers an excellent opportunity for students to explore Indonesia’s diversity. "By understanding Indonesia’s diversity, the students will be equipped with the knowledge to love Indonesia and contribute in their respective roles in the future,” said Randi Anto.
During their exchange, the students stayed with local families and participated in various educational activities such as scientific writing workshops, e-commerce training, and knowledge-sharing sessions on environmental and wildlife conservation. They also visited local BUMN offices, Rumah Kreatif BUMN, and BUMN partners to learn about business processes and products. Additionally, the students explored local tourist attractions, took part in a social activity called "BUMN Berbagi Buku" (BUMN Shares Books), and joined a car-free day event showcasing the unique culture of Gorontalo. Furthermore, the students received national defense training in collaboration with the Indonesian National Army (TNI) and the Ministry of Defense.
“The SMN program is an excellent opportunity as it provides the students with first-hand experiences of the archipelago, not just from books but by actually visiting areas far from their hometowns,” said Perum Jamkrindo’s Director of Finance, Investment, and Risk Management, I Rusdonobanu, when releasing the students in Gorontalo on Saturday, August 11, 2018.
Rusdonobanu also appreciated the support from the Government of Gorontalo Province, which helped ensure the success of the SMN program, from the selection process to the departure and arrival of the students. "The collaboration, coordination, and unity shown by the provincial government of Gorontalo are excellent in supporting the SMN program. We hope that Gorontalo will continue to progress and develop through the BUMN Hadir untuk Negeri program," he added.
The 24 students selected for the program were in their 11th year of high school, and three of them were students with disabilities. They were accompanied by teachers and officials from the Gorontalo Provincial Education, Culture, and Sports Office (Dikbudpora).
In addition to the 24 students going to Lampung, Perum Jamkrindo also hosted representatives from Lampung to introduce them to Gorontalo. As the coordinator for Gorontalo Province, Perum Jamkrindo operates a branch office in Gorontalo under the Makassar Regional Office to manage on-site technical assistance for the 23 students from Lampung.
Outside of the SMN program, Perum Jamkrindo also celebrated Indonesia's 73rd Independence Day in Gorontalo with a 5-kilometer walking event at Taruna Remaja Field, which was attended by 3,000 participants. Additionally, the company contributed to the local community by building public facilities, supporting labor-intensive programs, holding a discount market, and providing clean water facilities near the Paus Whale Beach in Bone Bolango Regency.