(BCA Advertorial: 4 x 27: 108cm)
(BCA Advertorial: 4 x 27: 108cm) (Publishing date: December 1, 2004)
Serving the people through education and health
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an integral part of today's business world, in both developed and developing countries.
CSR reflects a company's attention to community welfare in its country of operation. A company generally selects a community development activity from a broad range of programs -- depending on its financial condition -- to match the identified needs of the surrounding community, including education and health.
Many corporations focus on education for the younger generation, and provide scholarships or other academic aid programs. In health, many companies offer specialized medical treatments for free to those who cannot afford them, such as cataract surgery, harelip reconstructions and skin grafts for burn patients.
In Indonesia, the recognition of CSR as an inherent part of business activities has increased enormously over the past few years. Many companies have begun to implement CSR, realizing that business growth and community support go hand in hand.
Community development is a fundamental concern of Bank Central Asia (BCA), a publicly listed private bank. Under the Bakti BCA program, the bank focuses on providing assistance in education and health to raise the standard of living in surrounding communities.
The current educational programs include an accountancy course (PPA), university scholarships and an internship program for senior high school graduates as a teller at one of our branches.
Educational aid programs are ongoing for several elementary and secondary schools in Gunung Kidul regency, Yogyakarta province, and in Gadingrejo subdistrict, Lampung province. The programs are geared toward the needs of each individual school, so that the schools can gain optimal benefits that lead to future improvements.
For instance, in view of the poor condition of classrooms at select elementary schools, the aid was used for renovation work, expanding educational literature collections in libraries and improving sanitation systems.
For junior- and senior high schools, BCA has developed computer labs, provided library books and donated sewing machines toward vocational training courses for financially challenged students.
Through the Bakti BCA computer programs in Gunung Kidul and Gadingredjo, which last for three year, respectively, the bank provides computer training in cooperation with PT Rintis Sejahtera, PT Microsoft Indonesia and Hewlett Packard Indonesia. Further, in cooperation with Microsoft Indonesia, Bakti BCA provided computer training to teachers, so they could keep abreast of developments in this technology era.
The bank's efforts have been on the right track, as Emy Gunarti Saptarini, vice principal of SMUN I in Gunung Kidul, a recipient school, commented: "The educational aid program provided by BCA is extremely helpful, because it is designed to meet our needs."
Under the Bakti BCA health care program, the bank has established an active cooperation with the Indonesian Red Cross, and holds periodical blood drives at branch offices nationwide.
We also provide humanitarian and medical aid to victims of natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, droughts and earthquakes.
As vision is a vital component of our existence, the bank, in cooperation with PP Perdami, provides free cataract operations to those who cannot afford this delicate and costly procedure. Within this year alone, BCA has been able to help people regain their sight in Lampung province, Gunung Kidul and Sukabumi, West Java.
An active and continuous corporate commitment to education and community health, in fact, is integral to the bank's overall development and welfare.
With more and more companies providing aid, it can be expected that more and more of the younger generation will complete a higher education degree. Thus armed, they will be better prepared to enter the global competition -- and excel for the benefit of many.