JAKARTA — Eramet, a global mining and metallurgy company from France, continues to demonstrate its contribution to surrounding communities. Through a partnership with the Kitong Bisa Foundation (KBF), a nonprofit focused on education, Eramet provides scholarships to 42 university students from Eastern Indonesia.
Among the 42 scholarship recipients, three Eramet Beyond Scholars expressed their gratitude and shared how this support has transformed their lives.
Wisnu, a fifth–semester Management student at Pattimura University in Ambon, Maluku, said the scholarship has been a tremendous help in allowing him to continue his studies. Born in Central Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, the 21-year-old explained that the financial support has eased the burden of living as a migrant student in Ambon.
“At the start of the semester, I had to work at the market just to make sure I could pay my tuition,” Wisnu said.
He has a deep desire to change his family’s circumstances. Both of his parents have very limited education, having not completed elementary school. He dreams of working at a major company after graduating. “I want to change my life and build a better future,” said the third of six siblings.
A similar story comes from 21-year-old Yuliana Regina Nelce Manobi, a student of Information Technology at the University of Papua. For Yuliana, pursuing higher education in a field often considered out of reach in her region is a significant achievement. The gap in information and infrastructure between Eastern and Western Indonesia has only strengthened her determination to continue her studies.
Yuliana understands well that higher education is financially demanding, especially with the need to purchase books and other learning materials. “That is why I’m so happy to receive financial support to continue my studies,” she said.
The same joy is shared by Febriyani Abdullah (21), a Mining Engineering student at Khairun University. Her family lives in Sofifi, and at first she had to take a ferry to reach her campus in Ternate. Being the first in her family to pursue higher education brings both pride and significant challenges.
“In the East, women are still undervalued when it comes to pursuing higher education. At first, I didn’t even consider going to university,” she said.
Their stories are just a small glimpse of the change that can emerge from opportunity. From financial limitations to restricted access, they now dare to dream bigger.
