Adaro’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program focuses on 5 key areas and it includes support programs initiated by other parties that have common long-term objective with Adaro’s. One good example of this is the Bekantan Twins Project – a project that fights the extinction of the proboscis monkey in Kalimantan Selatan. The project was brought to Adaro CSR’s attention by Thohir Gabriella (Gabby) and Giovanna Thohir (Ghea), twins from Global Jaya high school.
This two young motivated girls have dedicated their time and energy to initiate this project because of their concern of the rapidly decreasing number of proboscis monkeys, which have been listed as endangered species by the World Conservation Organization (IUCN) since 2010. To support the twins’ efforts, the Adaro Bangun Negeri Foundation (YABN) flew the twins to the Adaro Paringin mine in Kalimantan to not only engage in a rescue mission to save the proboscis monkeys but also to act as direct observers in one of Adaro land reclamation area.
The Bekantan Twins Project : Time to Move Time to Act
Gabby and Ghea realized they had to influence people about the urgency to restore Bekantan’s life. By initiating real actions to save Bekantan, the twins have become an inspiration to their fellow youth. Support towards their initiative have continously increased as they manage to persuade fellow youths to participate in their act. With this concept, “The Bekantan Twins Project” was founded in 2013.
Gabby and Ghea also tried to find other creative ways to inspire more people to be able sustain the project. They came up with an idea to use technology as their effective media. Therefore, they created www.thebekantantwins.com, a website discussing their project and their concern over Bekantan. With this website, people can always see the twins’ progress in attaining their goal. Moreover, the twins have also used this website as an effective fundraising channel. By selling merchandises through this website, Gabby and Ghea were able raise money for the Bekantan conservation program. The Twins pushed this website to its limit and turned its every potential into a reliable tool to support the longrun of their project. The Twins showed what youth power is.
Gabby and Ghea’s fundamental aim within their project is to raise awareness within the youth community in having concern over Bekantan’s condition and inspire them to initiate their own similar movement. This smart angle in implementing their concern is hoped to generate young and creative ideas in enhancing this project. Moreover, youth involvement will bring about inspiration and act as a reminder to all that everyone can take their part in saving our nature.
As a catalyst to this movement, the twins implemented their youth-targeted strategy in form of an event held on Jakarta on June 15th 2014 in which Mall Kota Kasablanka supported by generously providing the space needed to launch the project. The reason behind why this event was held in a mall was that the twins wanted to give unlimited access for anyone to support their project. Furthermore, they hoped the awareness built can widely spread without any boundaries. This event involved many volunteers from various schools and universities, such as Global Jaya International School, Mentari International School, Universitas Indonesia, and Institut Teknologi Bandung. These student volunteers were concrete examples of youth involvement in raising people’s awareness towards the Bekantan Twins project. Satisfyingly, this event was a great success seen by the hundreds of people that came simultaneouly showing their support by buying merchandises and donating funds towards this project. This event raised almost 50 million Rupiah for Bekantan conservation in Kalimantan and positively attracted more corporate partners in becoming sponsors for further project development.
Collaboration to Unlock Youth Power Potentials
Sustainability is an important key point in the twins’ minds. The twins had to figure out how to preserve Bekantan in their habitat. This issue became major concern due to the fact that the preservation of bekantan and their habitat is a long-term action needing continous control over time. With this consideration, Gabby and Ghea came to bekantan expert, Professor Dr. Ir. H. M. Arief Soendjoto, M.Sc. to collaborate into this project. Professor Arief himself appreciated the twins’ effort in initiating a campaign to raise awareness over bekantan since this youth project is a pioneer in Indonesia.