15 May 2025
As part of its ongoing commitment to community development, Harita Nickel conducted an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign titled “Prevent Before It’s Too Late” on May 14-15, 2025. The initiative engaged 300 students from SMA Negeri 35 South Halmahera in Soligi Village and SMA Tunas Muda in Kawasi Village. The program received a strong and positive response from both students and school administrators, particularly given the limited access to reproductive health education for youth in the region.
Marlon Vergi Kurama, a teacher at SMA Tunas Muda Kawasi, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in the school environment. “HIV/AIDS is a serious disease with far-reaching consequences, not only for individuals but also for families and communities. This program plays a critical role in educating students to make informed choices and maintain healthy social interactions,” he said.
The sessions featured three key speakers: Ulfah Maghfirah, S.Psi., a youth and child welfare advocate, along with Agus Setiawan and Indra Lesmana Rahayu from the Harita Nickel Obi Clinic. Using an interactive and accessible approach, including an educational game called “Fact or Myth.” The speakers delivered key messages about adolescent development, behavioral risks, and personal responsibility.
“We educate in stages, starting with self-awareness, changes during adolescence, and the risks of harmful behaviors such as promiscuity and drug abuse. The goal is to empower teenagers to make responsible decisions,” explained Ulfah Maghfirah.
This awareness campaign is part of Harita Nickel’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, particularly in the area of public health. “Based on input from schools, health clinics, and local midwives, we identified growing concerns around adolescent behavior, including early marriage and rising visits to health facilities. As a result, we prioritized HIV/AIDS education for this round of outreach,” said Sahabuddin Abdullah, Community Development Staff at Harita Nickel.
Beyond addressing adolescent health, Harita Nickel remains firmly committed to supporting youth development through education and vocational training. One such initiative is the recently launched PELITA Vocational Mandarin Language Program, aimed at enhancing the future employability of local youth.
Thirty young participants from Kawasi and Soligi villages have enrolled in the Mandarin training program, conducted in partnership with a Jakarta-based language training institution. The program will run for approximately six to seven months.
Harita Nickel believes this initiative will expand employment opportunities for the younger generation on Obi Island, particularly in sectors that require Mandarin language proficiency and skilled labor.
Through these integrated education and capacity-building programs, Harita Nickel continues to embed positive values and contribute to long-term sustainable development in the region. While progress is incremental, each step is designed to deliver measurable impact, particularly for the young people shaping the future of Obi Island.
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