Louis Dreyfus Company launches school capacity-building projects in Jakarta and Balikpapan
Funded by the Louis Dreyfus Foundation, the projects will benefit over 500 students and 30 teachers at two public elementary schools in the cities.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA, 26 July 2018 – Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) announced today the launch of its Sekolah Masa Depan (“School of the Future”) capacity-building projects in Jakarta and Balikpapan, following a successful program pilot in Lampung last year. Funded by the Louis Dreyfus Foundation, the new projects will support two public elementary schools with building enhancements, training for teachers and parents, as well as student engagement.
In Jakarta, which is home to LDC Indonesia’s country head office, the company is partnering with P.S. 01 Gambir school at Jalan Medan Medeka Timur, located within the compound of the National Gallery of Indonesia. In Balikpapan, where LDC owns and operates an integrated palm oil refinery complex, it is working with the nearby P.S. 004 Penajam school at Pantai Lango Kec Penajam. Both schools have a total of over 500 students and 34 teachers between them, and were selected after a comprehensive needs assessment.
Rubens Marques, President Director of LDC Indonesia, says “As a company committed to supporting the well-being of our local communities, LDC is delighted to be able to extend this successful CSR program to Jakarta and Balikpapan, two very important operating locations for LDC in the country, thanks to the generous support of the Louis Dreyfus Foundation. Children are the future of every nation. By investing in them, LDC hopes to contribute towards a more sustainable future for Indonesia, as we continue to consolidate our position as a long-term participant in the Indonesian agricultural sector.”
Robert Serpollet, General Manager of the Louis Dreyfus Foundation, added “Under its newly expanded mandate to support projects that promote the welfare of local communities, the Foundation is very pleased to sponsor this educational initiative by LDC Indonesia. Through various planned engagement activities involving school leaders, teachers, parents and students, we believe the program has great potential to influence positive outcomes for the Jakarta and Balikpapan communities by empowering local schools.”
In terms of building enhancements, LDC will support the refurbishment of a basketball court for P.S. 01 Gambir school in Jakarta, as well as the installation of a deep well and additional lavatories, and assembly field renovation at P.S. 004 Penajam school in Balikpapan.
Engaging the expertise of WeTheTeachers, an Indonesian organization that designs and delivers programs for teachers’ professional development, the Sekolah Masa Depan projects will include teachers’ training, drawing on the principles of a values-based education. These workshops will strengthen creative teaching, classroom implementation and school program development skills among teachers. WeTheTeachers will also lead a focus group for parents at each school, helping them to reinforce positive values to their children at home.
As a final project component, employees from LDC’s Jakarta office and Balikpapan refinery will conduct six student engagement sessions at each school to impart knowledge on topics relating to LDC’s business, namely food production, agriculture, sustainability issues and values.
Looking forward to the anticipated benefits of the Sekolah Masa Depan program, Zuryetti M. Pd, Headmistress of Jakarta’s P.S. 01 Gambir school, says “I am very proud of the partnership that we have built with LDC and WeTheTeachers, and delighted with the support of the Louis Dreyfus Foundation. I hope our teachers and parents will be able to broaden their perspectives through this program, as we collaborate to nurture our students and help them to become successful, innovative and competent leaders of tomorrow.”
About Louis Dreyfus Company
Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. We leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve customers and consumers around the world, delivering the right products to the right location, at the right time – safely, responsibly and reliably. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines (platforms). Since 1851 our portfolio has grown to include Oilseeds, Grains, Freight, Global Markets, Coffee, Cotton, Sugar, Rice, Juice and Dairy. We help feed and clothe some 500 million people every year by originating, processing and transporting approximately 80 million tons of products. Structured as a matrix organization of 6 geographical regions and 10 platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18 000 people globally. For more information, visit www.ldc.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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