SOUTH BANGKA -- Efforts to empower young people continue to be encouraged through collaboration between educational institutions and the business sector. One such initiative is PT TIMAH Tbk’s support for the Village Development Program (Bina Desa) organized by the Student Executive Board (BEM) of the University of Bangka Belitung (UBB) in Tanjung Sangkar Village, Lepar District, South Bangka Regency.
The Village Development Program, which runs from June 18–27, 2026, involves approximately 90 students from various academic programs. The initiative serves as a platform for students to contribute to the community through a range of social, educational, and health-related activities tailored to the village’s needs.
Irfan Ariansyah, Coordinator of the Tanjung Sangkar Village Development Program, stated that the initiative has become a regular agenda of the UBB Student Executive Board as a form of meaningful student engagement with the community.
“The Village Development Program is a community service activity that we organize regularly. We aim to implement programs that truly benefit the community, particularly in the areas of education, health, and empowerment,” he said.
Irfan explained that, based on discussions with the village government, one of the challenges faced by the community is limited access to literacy resources and health education. As a result, the students initiated the development of a literacy corner to help foster reading interest among residents.
In addition, the program includes educational outreach, health awareness activities, and community assistance efforts aimed at preventing various social issues, such as drug abuse and low educational awareness.
“We are also building a literacy corner as a space for reading and learning within the community. We hope it will increase reading interest and provide educational opportunities for children and residents alike,” he explained.
This year’s Village Development Program also involves support from various stakeholders, including PT TIMAH Tbk, which contributes to strengthening community empowerment initiatives and youth development programs.
PT TIMAH’s support will be used to facilitate mangrove planting activities and the cultivation of family medicinal plants (TOGA), which are expected to support food security and help reduce stunting rates in coastal communities.
Irfan added that the collaboration provides valuable experience for students, allowing them to better understand community conditions while developing their social and leadership skills in the field.
“This is the second year we have implemented the Village Development Program. We have seen that the community is very open and supportive of student activities. We hope this partnership can continue in the future,” he said.
He also expressed hope that support from various stakeholders, including PT TIMAH, will continue to grow in strengthening village-based community empowerment initiatives.
“We hope PT TIMAH and other stakeholders will continue collaborating in programs like this because the impact is directly felt by the community,” he said.
Through its involvement in the Village Development Program, PT TIMAH continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting youth empowerment, improving educational quality, and encouraging community service initiatives across its operational areas. (*)
