Not all great things start with long-term planning. Sometimes, they begin with a simple need. Such as when several employees of PT Halmahera Jaya Feronikel (HJF), PT Karunia Permai Sentosa (KPS), and PT Obi Sinar Timur (OST) got together and realized that their creative interests needed space to grow.
From that need, the idea of an internal creative space began to take shape. This potential was first recognized by Christoforus Nanda Rahardian, Industrial Relations Specialist at HJF. He saw that many employees had creative interests and abilities, but did not yet have a shared platform.
According to Christo, this idea stemmed from simple observations of everyday life at the site. "I saw a lot of creative potential in my friends. Some like photography, some are interested in making videos, but everyone works independently. From there came the desire to create a more fluid space, so they could learn from each other and feel like they belong," he said.
From there, Herocreative was formed, an internal community that serves as a space for learning and collaboration for Harita Nickel employees on Obi Island, run by employees, for employees.
The head of Herocreative, Rudianto Sapsuha from the Fire Emergency Service department, believes that Herocreative serves as a space that bridges employees' creative interests with a spirit of collaboration. “Many of our colleagues are actually interested in creative fields, but don't know where to start. Here, we learn together, help each other, and if possible, contribute to the company as well," he said.
What makes this community interesting is its diversity. Some members are holding a camera for the first time, those who started by learning video editing through online tutorials, and those who have been pursuing photography for a long time but have never had a space to share. This combination of skills actually helps them grow. No one feels superior, no one is left behind, everyone grows together.
Muhammad Rizal Tahir, a member of Herocreative from the Equipment department who is often actively involved in internal company activities, said that this experience changed the way he viewed his routine. "There are many things in the field that turned out to be interesting. I used to overlook them, but after joining Hero Creative, I became more sensitive to things that I could turn into content," he said.
Meanwhile, Nur Fadhilah Ahmad from the Production department felt something similar. Despite coming from a work background far removed from the creative world, Herocreative opened up a new perspective for her in seeing her daily life at the site.
"I'm so happy to be part of Herocreative. I didn't really understand how to create content at first, but now I'm starting to learn how to come up with more interesting ideas," she explained.
Nur, who has been working at HJF since 2023, also admitted that the existence of Hero Creative makes the work environment feel more comfortable. Moreover, the company regularly holds various interesting events involving this community. “So, I don't get too bored with the same old routine,” she explained.
Over time, Herocreative's activities continue to grow. From small shooting sessions to being involved in documenting various internal events, this community has begun to play a role in presenting more organized visuals. They do not work as a professional team, but their contributions have allowed many divisions and departments to see the company's activities from a closer perspective.
The impact was even greater than they had imagined. Members from various departments who previously rarely interacted with each other were now able to sit together, discuss, give each other feedback, and even laugh when reviewing photos that were out of focus.
For Harita Nickel, the presence of the Herocreative community adds a new dimension to the development of internal engagement. This community shows that creativity can flourish in any environment as long as it is given the opportunity, support, and space.
Herocreative may be growing slowly, but the foundation they have built is strong: an initiative facilitated by the company and run entirely by employees. They are not a formal unit, nor a large team, but their presence reminds us that behind every operational activity there is always a human story worth celebrating.
That is where Herocreative finds its role, bringing a new perspective, presenting stories from behind the scenes, and affirming that creativity always has a place, as long as there are those willing to give it space.