Hydroponics and Nutrition Support Foster Youth Development in Dumai

JAKARTAWEEKLY – Hands-on learning through a hydroponic greenhouse and nutrition support for young children are part of ongoing efforts by PT Ivo Mas Tunggal (IMT), a subsidiary of Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, in collaboration with Tzu Chi Sinar Mas and ADM, to support the development and well-being of children and young people in Dumai.

At State Vocational High School (SMKN) 4 Dumai, the hydroponic greenhouse built through the collaboration has become a hands-on learning space for 40 students, while also involving 10 local residents in its construction.

Through the initiative, students gain practical experience throughout the cultivation cycle, from planting and maintaining crops to harvesting. The activities also help them develop skills such as attention to detail, consistency, responsibility and teamwork. The facility allows students to observe plant growth firsthand and apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations.

Rudhatul Fikri, a student at SMKN 4 Dumai, said the hands-on training had helped him better understand how hydroponic systems work. “Through hands-on training like this, I have a much better understanding of how a hydroponic system actually works. The training has also given me the skills to start building a hydroponic garden at home. One of the most valuable lessons was the importance of maintaining a stable water supply, especially as the plants begin to grow,” he said.

Miftahul Jannah, principal of SMKN 4 Dumai, said the greenhouse had given the school greater opportunities to provide students with more practical and applicable learning. She said practice-based activities could also shape how students approach their work by encouraging them to be more careful, consistent and responsible.

“In vocational education, the learning process should also shape how students work. Through activities like this, they learn to be more meticulous, consistent and responsible for the tasks they are given, while also becoming accustomed to completing a process and producing something tangible. This experience will be valuable as they make choices about their lives after completing their education,” she said.

Paulus Lidi, deputy general manager of PT Ivo Mas Tunggal, said ensuring that the facility could provide lasting benefits for students had been a key consideration in its development.

“Collaboration is important because each party brings its own role and expertise. What we want to build is not merely a facility, but something that can continue to be used, managed and developed by the school according to its own needs. In this way, the benefits of the initiative can be passed on from one generation of students to the next,” Paulus said.

Supporting Early Childhood Nutrition in Sungai Sembilan

Alongside the education initiative, the partners are also supporting early childhood nutrition in Sungai Sembilan district, where 67 children from four kindergartens have received nutritious meals as part of the program.

The program is being implemented at TK 01 Negeri Kelas Jauh Sungai Geniot, TK Negeri 01 Kelas Jauh Batu Teritip, TK Harapan Lestari and TK Pelangi Ceria, with support from the Dumai administration through the Family Welfare Empowerment and Mobilization Team (TP-PKK), as well as the Education and Health offices.

Hj. Leni Ramaini, SKM, head of Dumai’s Early Childhood Education (PAUD) program, said meeting children’s nutritional needs from an early age was one of the key foundations for healthy growth and development. She added that sustaining such efforts and ensuring assistance reached children who needed it most required cooperation among multiple stakeholders.

“We are very grateful for the concern shown by PT Ivo Mas Tunggal, Tzu Chi Sinar Mas and ADM for the issue of early childhood nutrition. Synergy among the government, businesses and communities like this has a real impact on the growth and development of our children,” she said.

Tobias Westphalen, ADM’s global head of Pulses and PKE, said the two initiatives reflected ADM’s ongoing commitment to supporting local communities.

“Through ADM Cares, we work with various organizations in the communities where we operate to understand local needs and identify ways in which we can contribute. Together with PT Ivo Mas Tunggal and Tzu Chi Sinar Mas, we can combine our efforts to support initiatives that are relevant to the people of Dumai,” he said.