Penajam Paser Utara– The success of Amelia Priskila Sali in receiving the Sobat Bumi Kalimantan Scholarship keeps her hope and dream alive to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This scholarship program, offered by PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) in collaboration with Pertamina Foundation as the implementing partner, provides Amelia with a pathway to continue her education at the university level.

"My father is a farmer, and my mother is a housewife. Although our parents' income is uncertain, they always support our education," Amelia, a student from Lawe-Lawe Village in Penajam, East Kalimantan, shared. She was accepted into Mulawarman University through the National Selection Based on Tests in the International Relations program. The BSBK program will fully fund Amelia's undergraduate education.

Amelia and 14 other outstanding students from Kalimantan have been selected as the recipients of the full BSBK scholarship for 2024. This scholarship program provides assistance with tuition fees, living expenses, and capacity-building support with an environmental focus, Aksi Sobat Bumi dan Desa Energi Berdikari Sobat Bumi (DEB SoBI).

As the eldest of three siblings, Amelia is committed to studying diligently and with discipline to achieve her dream of becoming the Minister of Foreign Affairs. "I always pray and focus on my education because I believe education is the key to achieving my goals," she stated.

While at SMA Negeri 5 Penajam Paser Utara, Amelia participated in various extracurricular activities such as dance, Olympiads, music, and the student council/OSIS. These activities helped her adapt and interact with her surroundings. She is also known as an outstanding student. "In addition to passing the SNBT at Mulawarman University, I have always maintained the top rank from grades 10 to 12 and won various competitions, including first place at the district level and third place at the provincial level in religious competitions," Amelia proudly explained.

Amelia's journey has been challenging. Her main challenge has been economic hardship. "With my father's uncertain income and the need to finance my siblings' education, I often face difficulties buying school supplies and uniforms," she said. Despite this, Amelia remains enthusiastic and seeks solutions to every challenge.

She learned about the BSBK program from her Guidance and Counseling teacher at school and through social media. "I prepared well for the selection, from the administrative process to the academic potential test," she explained.

Amelia's motivation for applying to the BSBK program is to reduce her family's financial burden and open up educational opportunities that were previously out of reach. She would have chosen to work first if she had yet to receive this scholarship. "My family's economic situation cannot support my college education. So, I am very grateful to PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia for allowing me to access quality education," she said.

Amelia hopes that the BSBK program can help more people pursue higher education. "Everyone deserves the same opportunities, as long as they don't give up," she concludes.

Dony Indrawan, Manager of Communication Relations & CID at PHI, stated that the BSBK program can serve as a bridge for students, especially from underprivileged families, to access higher education and realize their dreams. Dony explained that the BSBK program is designed to help the children of Kalimantan achieve their hopes and embrace a better future. "The Sobat Bumi Kalimantan scholarship is one of PHI's commitments to improve education quality by providing opportunities and access for talented students, especially from underprivileged families," he said.

This year marks the inaugural implementation of the BSBK program, one of PHI's flagship CSR initiatives in education. The program aims to support the realization of Indonesia Gold 2045 through the development of quality human resources. The BSBK program is fully supported by PHI's subsidiaries, including PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM), PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS), and PT Pertamina Hulu Kalimantan Timur (PHKT).

PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) is part of the Upstream Subholding of Pertamina, managing upstream oil and gas operations in Regional 3 Kalimantan according to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in line with its vision 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 areas such as economy, education, health, environment, infrastructure, and disaster response to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realize #EnergyKalimantanUntukIndonesia. PHI is headquartered in Jakarta. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.