PANGKALPINANG -- Education for children with special needs or disabilities is one of the concerns of PT Timah Tbk. This TINS-coded issuer has supported education for persons with disabilities in the Bangka Belitung Archipelago Province for 67 years through the YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation.
Members of the Indonesian mining holding MIND ID fully support educational activities for hundreds of children with disabilities in the Bangka Belitung Archipelago Province.
The establishment of the YPAC Foundation in 1955 cannot be separated from the initiation of PT Timah Tbk to provide opportunities for children with special needs to receive educational services.
Currently, there are 115 children studying at YPAC Pangkalpinang who experience various disabilities such as deaf, physically disabled, mentally impaired and autistic.
Chairman of the YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation, Andi Fikri, said that PT Timah Tbk is a regular donor to support the implementation of education at the YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation.
"In 1955, YPAC was also initiated by PT Timah Tbk at that time, so it has survived to this day. PT Timah Tbk's support has never stopped since its establishment until now, meaning that around 67 years PT Timah Tbk has helped the YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation," said Andi Fikri, Friday (2/12/2022).
He explained that PT Timah Tbk's support for YPAC Pangkalpinang, such as the YPAC Pangkalpinang building, which is a school for children with disabilities, is an asset of PT Timah Tbk.
Not only that, TINS ??also routinely provides operational assistance every month to support the educational process and educational facilities at YPAC Pangkalpinang.
"The YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation implements a cross-subsidy system for financing, because many who are economically disadvantaged study here. To support this operation, PT Timah Tbk provides assistance every month to support the educational process at this Foundation," explained Andi Fikri.
Not only that, according to him, PT Timah Tbk also routinely helps with children's development activities at the YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation, such as for competitions, entertainment activities and various other activities.
"Not only educational activities, but also activities for children to take part in competitions such as athletic competitions and other activities. Even last year, PT Timah Tbk also participated in commemorating the International Day of Disabilities. It has been extraordinary for PT Timah Tbk to help the YPAC Foundation," he said.
Andi Fikri also said that PT Timah Tbk also facilitated children with disabilities to develop their sports talents by lending the Stannia Sports Hall for the training process for people with disabilities.
"Children are also allowed to practice sports at the PT Timah Tbk Sports Hall, to develop their sports talents. PT Timah Tbk is the only BUMN that has consistently helped educate children with special needs at the YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation," he said.
He mentioned, YPAC Pangkalpinang has continued to grow, now they have a Children's Growth and Development House (RTKA) to support the education and therapy process for children with disabilities.
In the future, he hopes that children with disabilities will not receive different treatment in society. The reason is, children with disabilities have many advantages.
"In the education process at YPAC 70 percent is practice or skills training, how can they be independent to take care of themselves. Then they are taught various skills such as making crafts, cooking and others according to their interests and potential," he said.
He also hopes that in the future there will be more and more people who care about and can support the learning process of children with disabilities. So they can continue to grow.
“Many still think that children with disabilities are a disgrace, even though they are entitled and entitled to education. The educational process must also be supported by the family and community environment. Not that when they go to school, parents feel their job is done. Together, we help them become independent.” " he says.
Going forward, Andi hopes that PT Timah Tbk can continue to support the education process for children with disabilities in Bangka Belitung, especially at the YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation.
"It has been 67 years that PT Timah Tbk has supported the education of children at the YPAC Pangkalpinang Foundation. We hope that other SOEs can also participate in supporting the education of children with special needs," he hoped.
