Harita Nickel's commitment to empowering communities surrounding the mining area has once again been proven through the graduation of 22 participants of the third batch of the PELITA (Youth Skills Improvement) Vocational Program. This time, the program was focused on mastering the Mandarin language to meet the strategic needs of the nickel downstream industry.
In the graduation ceremony that was held on Thursday (27/11) in Harita Nickel’s site on Obi Island, the graduates officially obtained HSK 3 (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi level 3) equivalent competency after undergoing six months of intensive training, covering 112 sessions or the equivalent of 192 hours of learning.
Harita Nickel’s Deputy Head of Technical Support, Agung Aribowo, affirms that this program was designed for the local communities to become more than just spectators amid the rapid growth of the nickel industry, but to become active participants.
"We understand that the success of downstreaming depends on strong human resources. These Mandarin vocational graduates are prepared to become vital communication bridges in a work environment that is integrated with international partners. This is a strategic added value for local people to enter the competitive global job market," said Agung.
The impact of this program was felt directly by Kasman La Jaani (18), a young man from Soligi Village. Facing economic challenges and difficult terrain to arrive at the language school, Kasman almost gave up halfway through. However, intensive assistance from the Community Development team of Harita Nickel managed to revive his spirit to study again, enabling him to become the second-best graduate.
“At the beginning, it was difficult because of the distance and weather; I felt like giving up. But the support from my mentors at Harita Nickel helped me get back on my feet. I believe that Mandarin language skills are the key to a brighter future for us, the children of Obi,” said Kasman optimistically.
Saimah Kasuba, Head of the South Halmahera Regional Education Office of North Maluku Province, delivering remarks during the graduation ceremony of Harita Nickel’s Mandarin vocational program.
The Head of the North Maluku Provincial Education Office for South Halmahera, Saimah Kasuba, expressed her deep appreciation for the program. She called it a significant breakthrough in regional vocational education.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you should take pride in the fact that the PELITA Mandarin vocational program at Harita Nickel is the first of its kind in South Halmahera. It is precisely this kind of collaboration that is needed to produce competent and competitive local human resources,” Saimah affirmed.
PELITA is part of Harita Nickel's Community Development and Empowerment (PPM) program, which aims to improve local human resources through vocational education.
Prior to this third batch, the program has successfully transformed unskilled workers into certified skilled workers. A total of 14 graduates from the first batch are now working as wheel loader operators, while 28 graduates from the second batch are operating overhead cranes at a smelter owned by one of Harita Nickel's subsidiaries.
Harita Nickel's commitment to education does not stop at vocational training. In addition to PELITA, the company is also providing scholarships for 100 university students from Obi this year, building school infrastructure, and providing incentives for assistant teachers. All of this is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in creating quality education.
This educational ecosystem is built with the aim of producing local human resources who are not only technically competent but also highly competitive in responding to the increasingly competitive challenges of the global nickel downstream industry.