Kutai Kartanegara– The Sobat Bumi Kalimantan Scholarship (BSBK) is a flagship CSR program by PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) in education, offering new hope for the youth of Kalimantan to pursue higher education at the undergraduate level. Novi Pebrianti can now live her dream of being a mathematics major at Mulawarman University, having earned the scholarship alongside 14 other top young talents from Kalimantan.

Coming from a modest family, Novi grew up resilient and dedicated to fighting for her dreams. Although her parents are retired, she continues to strive toward her goal of becoming a lecturer. Her challenges motivate her to keep pushing forward and working hard to make her family proud.

Novi’s educational journey has not been easy. She had to deal with various limitations during her school years, including transportation access. Every day, she would rely on a friend’s vehicle to reach school, yet this did not dampen her enthusiasm for learning. With gratitude for what she had, Novi kept fighting tirelessly.

This determination led her to participate in various competitions. She joined prestigious events, from the National Science Olympiad (OSN) to the International Kangaroo Mathematics Contest, an international math competition. Through these competitions, Novi pushed herself out of her comfort zone, constantly striving to realize her dream of becoming a dedicated lecturer.

Being selected as a recipient of the Sobat Bumi Kalimantan Scholarship was a significant turning point in her journey. This scholarship lightened her financial burden and became a powerful motivator for her to keep pursuing her dreams. She is committed to becoming a lecturer who can help others, share knowledge, and inspire future generations. Her dedication to education is reflected in her core principle: using knowledge to create positive change in society.

"I would like to thank PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia for the trust and opportunity given to me as a Sobat Bumi Kalimantan Scholarship recipient. I hope PHI will continue this scholarship program to help the youth of Kalimantan pursue higher education," said Novi.

Novi Pebrianti’s inspiring story is a testament to how the Sobat Bumi Kalimantan Scholarship can pave the way for a better future. With her passion and commitment, Novi proves that challenges are no barrier to realizing big dreams.

This year marks the inaugural year of the BSBK Program, which aims to support the vision of a Golden Indonesia 2045 through quality human resource development. Besides financial support, BSBK offers scholarship recipients opportunities to contribute to various environmental conservation initiatives. The BSBK funding is fully supported by PHI subsidiaries, including PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM), PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS), and PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT).

PHI’s Communication Relations & CID Manager, Dony Indrawan, stated that the BSBK Program reflects the company's commitment to supporting communities, especially young people in the company’s operational areas, in gaining access to higher education, thus enabling them to achieve their aspirations and face a brighter future. "The Sobat Bumi Kalimantan Scholarship supports the development of Kalimantan’s best young talent, particularly from underprivileged families, to pursue higher education and build a better future," he said.

PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) is part of Pertamina's Upstream Subholding, managing upstream oil and gas operations and business in Kalimantan Region 3, aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in its mission to become a world-class oil and gas company. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates in collaboration with SKK Migas, PHI implements innovative Corporate Social Responsibility programs in Economics, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bring #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia to life. PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.