WEST BANGKA -- A total of 86 participants in the 2024 BUMN Fun Homecoming with PT Timah arrived in Tanjung Kalian Mentok, West Bangka Regency, Friday (5/4/202).
Participants in the BUMN Fun Homecoming with PT Timah are students from various universities in Indonesia, they have traveled for three days to be able to set foot on Bangka Island.
Next, they will continue their journey to their respective residence addresses using buses that have been prepared by PT Timah.
Anjelia Apriani, a student at UIN Wali Songo Semarang, said that even though she was tired from participating in the BUMN Fun Homecoming with PT Timah, she felt happy to have arrived in her hometown.
"I'm happy because I haven't been home for a year. This program helps migrant children on the island of Java to be able to return to their hometowns and meet their families again, especially during Eid," he said
"Even though I'm tired, missing my family is more dominant. So I don't feel tired, it feels like it's worth it because I can meet my family," said Dara from Mentok.
He hopes that apart from maintaining the program, the quota can also be increased because the enthusiasm of students participating in the PT Timah program is extraordinary.
"This is the second free homecoming with PT Timah. The hope is that there will always be a free homecoming, not only for Jogja and Semarang students, but all students from other cities, and the quota is added, many want to come but the quota is limited," he said.
Likewise, UNY Yogyakarta student Regi Dwicahya said that even though he was tired, he felt very happy to arrive on the island of Bangka.
"Alhamdulillah, I am very happy to have arrived at Tanjung after three quite tiring days of travel.
"During the trip, we felt togetherness with quite good facilities," said the man who was going home to Belinyu.
According to him, the free homecoming program helps students. He hopes this program will be sustainable.
"Free homecoming helps us students. This program is very good. Hopefully, this program will continue. Hopefully, PT Timah will become a company that is bigger, more advanced, and useful for society," he hoped.
Similarly, Septi, a student at the State University of Malang, said that this free homecoming, apart from reducing costs, also unites Bangka students.
"Thank God, it can reduce the family's costs, the intention was not to go home, but because it's free, and as long as we travel it's covered by everyone, we just have to accept that we don't have to, we want to break the fast and have sahur. So we can Eid with the family," he said.
According to him, this homecoming activity can also increase their relationship because even though they are both from Bangka, many of them don't know each other.
He also hopes that the Free Homecoming program will be maintained, because according to him it can motivate the people of Babel to study outside Bangka and improve the quality of Bangka Belitung's human resources.
"We hope that this Free Homecoming Program will be continued. It is held every year so that students will be enthusiastic about studying abroad so that they don't need to think about the costs of going home.
"PT Timah supports the creation of quality human resources," he said.
"We are proud that, despite PT TImah's current condition, we can contribute to students. Hopefully, PT Timah will be successful, make more profits, and continue to be useful for society," hopes Septi. (**)
