Aqila: The Young 'Local Hero' Activator for Environmental Awareness

Jakarta, July 24, 2024 - National Children's Day (HAN), celebrated annually on July 23, marks its 40th anniversary in 2024. This year's theme is "Protected Children, Advanced Indonesia," divided into six sub-themes addressing current and relevant children's issues.

One of the sub-themes for National Children's Day 2024 is "Dare to Lead and Speak Up: Children as Pioneers and Reporters." Aqila Raysha Muchtar, a sixth-grade student at Sukajaya State Elementary School (SDN) 2, deserves recognition as an environmental pioneer in her community in Bayung Lencir, Musi Banyuasin Regency (Muba), South Sumatra Province.

"Nature provides many good things for human life, from the fresh air we breathe, the water we drink, to the food we eat," said the young girl who aspires to be a pencak silat athlete.

Aqila Raysha Muchtar, born on March 24, 2013, is known for her intelligence and talent in various fields. She is adaptive, disciplined, responsible, highly concerned about the environment, and actively contributes to environmental campaigns.

As the school's Adiwiyata Ambassador, Aqila demonstrates her care and initiative in preserving activities for the environment she leads. Besides SDN 2 Sukajaya, Aqila shares her environmental management knowledge with other schools, including SDN Mendis.

Aqila's strong character has led her to be chosen as a 'local hero' by PHE Jambi Merang Regional Sumatra Subholding Upstream Pertamina for their Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) program focused on environmental management. It aligns with Subholding Upstream Pertamina's efforts to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 13 (Climate Action), and supporting the company's implementation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

Under PHE Jambi Merang's guidance, some innovations have emerged that provide alternative solutions for the Environmental Activist Group and SDN 2 Sukajaya students. One is the educational game Bocah Cilik Kelola Lingkungan (Bocil Keling), available on the Play Store. This educational app helps students and school communities understand the recycling process.

The Bocil Keling app educates on features such as trash collection, park cleaning, and river cleaning. It also provides information on waste types and corresponding trash bin colors. Additionally, students can scan the barcode of waste types automatically when disposing of them in the trash bin. The feature rewards students with points for correctly sorting waste. The points are exchanged for stationery at the SDN 2 Sukajaya's KUKIRA JUMPA (Gather, Creative, Select, Bless, Sell Waste) Waste Bank.

Aqila and her friends were motivated to care for the environment after witnessing the intentional land burning for palm oil plantation expansion, leading to forest and land fires. It spurred Aqila to become an Environmental Activist Ambassador, taking the initial steps to care and take action through small measures.

As an environmental activist ambassador, Aqila provides guidance, training, and outreach for the Environmental Activist Group. She organizes a recycling program at her school, involving her peers and teachers in collecting plastic and paper waste. She then guides her friends in correctly sorting the waste. Additionally, she conducts brief training sessions on the recycling process, such as making eco-bricks or other crafts. "Through this program, the school environment has become cleaner and zero plastic," said Aqila, who won Silver at the 2024 CID Upstream Award PHE SH Upstream Pertamina for Best CID Local Hero.

Through the Technological-Based Sustainable School Program (Kelas Berbagi), Aqila encourages her friends to participate in these activities. Now, Aqila has become the main driver of the zero-plastic school program and has successfully spread this initiative to the surrounding community.

Aqila hopes the environmental awareness campaign will continue through junior high, high school, and beyond. She also hopes to work on conservation projects, research ecosystems, and find solutions to existing environmental problems while nurturing successors for her program.

Corporate Secretary of PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), Arya Dwi Paramita, considers Aqila an inspiring and high-achieving Indonesian student. "Her concern for the environment can be an example for her peers, her community, and all of us," he said.

"PHE cares about sustainability, and this support is a manifestation of our commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) aspects," Arya added.

PHE will continue to invest in managing upstream oil and gas operations and business according to ESG principles. PHE has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since June 2022 and is committed to the Ten Universal Principles of the UNGC in its strategy and operations to implement the ESG aspects. Supporting Governance aspects, PHE remains committed to Zero Tolerance for Bribery by ensuring fraud prevention and maintaining a bribe-free company through the ISO 37001:2016 standard Anti-Bribery Management System (SMAP).

PHE continues to develop prudent and excellent operations management domestically and internationally to achieve to be a world-class environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and well-governed oil and gas company.

Vice President of Corporate Communication Pertamina, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, stated that as a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN), Pertamina is committed to environmental preservation to promote sustainable development through various Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) programs.

"Protecting the environment is our collective responsibility; hence, Pertamina continues to promote TJSL programs that encourage public involvement in environmental preservation," said Fadjar.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**