HEADLINE: Pertamina Berkah: 17,300 Orphans and the Needy Receive Assistance in 34 Provinces
SUMMARY: The 2024 Pertamina Berkah program reaches 17,300 orphans and the needy throughout Indonesia — from Aceh's dayahs to remote communities in Papua. Cash assistance of Rp500,000 per child, food aid packages, school supplies, and religious equipment are being distributed gradually since June. This program, which has been running since 2020, also includes special guidance for children with disabilities and plans to integrate skill training for young orphans.
CONTENT:
In an orphanage on the outskirts of Jakarta, the morning was not like usual. Raissa (9 years old) sat on the porch, her eyes sparkling as several large boxes were lowered from a car. "We got new books, Alhamdulillah," she whispered to her friend beside her. A smile spread across her face as her hands touched the wrapping paper. This scene was just one of thousands of similar moments across Indonesia this June, when Pertamina launched its annual 'Pertamina Berkah' program.
More Than Just Assistance
This year's Pertamina Berkah program reaches 17,300 orphans and the needy in 34 provinces — an increase from last year's numbers. The assistance includes food aid packages, stationery, religious equipment, and cash assistance averaging Rp500,000 per child. The total budget reached Rp8.65 billion. Pertamina's CEO Nicke Widyawati emphasized during a symbolic handover ceremony in Jakarta that this program is not just incidental help. "We want to provide sustainable benefits — not just this month, but in the long term," she said.
Impact Felt from Aceh to Papua
In Aceh, Pertamina volunteers visited dayahs to directly deliver assistance to orphaned students. In Surabaya, children from riverbanks received special gifts including uniforms, shoes, and school bags. Meanwhile, in Papua, staff had to take small flights and walk for two hours to reach remote communities in the Bintang Mountains. Recipients' data were verified together with local social institutions and regional governments. CSR Program Coordinator of Pertamina Benny H. emphasized, "No name without field verification. We ensure it's targeted — not just the right name." This year, the program also includes special guidance for 320 children with disabilities, including learning aids and modified assistance packages.
Reactions from Recipients and the Community
"Thank you Pertamina, this is very helpful," said Siti (42), a widow in Banten whose child received assistance. She used the cash assistance to buy school uniforms and textbooks. On social media, the hashtag #PertaminaBerkah briefly trended on Twitter and Instagram. Most netizens praised the speed of distribution and the variety of assistance forms. However, some criticism emerged: "One-time annual assistance is helpful, but more guidance is needed — not just money, but also direction," wrote a netizen from Medan. A teacher in Lombok added that many orphans need academic and psychological guidance, not just physical packages.
Beyond the Numbers: Meaning Behind the Program
Pertamina Berkah is not just an annual CSR agenda. Amid operational pressures due to global oil price fluctuations and business efficiency efforts, this social funding allocation shows a real commitment by the state-owned enterprise to the people. Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, in a virtual speech, called this program as "a modern form of mutual aid." He emphasized that social responsibility is not a burden, but part of the identity of the red flag company. In the future, Pertamina plans to integrate the program with skill training for young orphans — from cooking to basic technical skills — in collaboration with BLK and national vocational institutions.
Tradition of Sharing in a Sacred Month
The distribution of assistance has been gradually carried out since early June — a moment that unofficially coincides with the blessed months in the Islamic calendar. In Makassar, some assistance was converted into sacrificial animals and distributed to orphanages and marginal mosques. In Yogyakarta, food aid packages came with children's fasting guides and prayer cards. This reinforces the spiritual dimension of the program — not just about material needs, but also reinforcing values of care, gratitude, and togetherness.
This year's Pertamina Berkah has left a mark: 17,300 smiles, 17,300 hopes. Yet behind the numbers, there is a hope that similar assistance can continue — not as an annual ceremony, but as a permanent part of a living and responsive social support ecosystem. For Raissa and thousands of other children, the small touch from the red flag company may be proof that they are not alone.