The opportunity to pursue higher education is becoming increasingly accessible for young members of the Orang Rimba community in Jambi. Educational support from PT Sari Aditya Loka (SAL) is helping young people from the community continue their studies while opening up possibilities for their future that they once found difficult to imagine.
One of them is Desi, an Orang Rimba woman who is currently studying at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at the University of Jambi. The eldest of four siblings, she chose to continue her education despite having to leave her family and adapt to life in Jambi City.
“I am proud to be an Orang Rimba. I want to continue my education so that I can achieve my dreams, make my parents proud, and set an example for my younger siblings. One day, I also want to return and help children in my community learn,” Desi said in a written statement received by the editorial team on Monday (September 1, 2026).
For Desi, education is about more than earning a degree. Both of her parents only attended elementary school. Rather than holding her back, this background has motivated her to continue her education and become a role model for her younger siblings.
She has also seen girls in her community choose marriage over continuing their education. For this reason, the opportunity to attend university has become part of her personal journey to demonstrate that Orang Rimba girls can also shape their own futures through education.
“The decision to move to Jambi City was not easy. However, my desire to continue my education kept me going,” she said.
A similar story comes from Kurnia, a 20-year-old woman from Bukit Suban Village, Air Hitam District, Sarolangun Regency. Since elementary school, Kurnia had dreamed of becoming a healthcare professional.
That aspiration was met with uncertainty, particularly over the cost of education and concerns about living far from her family. However, the opportunity to pursue an education in healthcare encouraged her to take it.
“When I learned that I could continue my education in the healthcare field, I was very grateful. At first, I was also hesitant because I would have to live far from my family and think about my living expenses. But I wanted to keep trying because I wanted to achieve the dream I had had since childhood,” Kurnia said.
Today, Kurnia has completed her university journey. She defended her final project in June and graduated from the Jambi Health Polytechnic. While waiting for her October graduation ceremony, she has begun preparing for the next step toward realising her dream of becoming a healthcare professional.
Support That Opens Doors
The journeys of Desi and Kurnia have been made possible in part by the educational support they received while studying in Jambi City. PT SAL is one of the parties providing assistance to young members of the Orang Rimba community to pursue higher education.
As of 2026, PT SAL has supported five Orang Rimba youth in pursuing higher education, comprising three men and two women. One of the beneficiaries has completed his education and subsequently joined the Indonesian police force.
Desi and Kurnia are the two women who have received this support. For both of them, the assistance has helped cover their educational and living needs while they are away from their families.
PT SAL’s educational support extends beyond higher education. The company also provides access to education through Community Learning Centres (Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Masyarakat/PKBM), using an approach tailored to the social and cultural characteristics of the Orang Rimba community.
Throughout 2025, a total of 421 Orang Rimba children from seven groups and 14 sub-groups gained access to education through 13 PKBMs, supported by 16 teachers and scholarships covering education from early childhood education through higher education.
The program is designed not only to improve basic literacy skills, but also to provide young members of the Orang Rimba community with opportunities to gain knowledge and skills while expanding the range of choices available to them for their future.
An educational approach that takes into account the social and cultural characteristics of the Orang Rimba community is also essential to ensure that access to education does not stop at the basic level, but can continue through higher education.
Education for the Future
The journeys of Desi and Kurnia demonstrate how educational support can serve as a bridge for Orang Rimba children, helping them turn their aspirations into reality.
Kurnia is now preparing to enter the workforce after completing her higher education. Meanwhile, Desi continues her studies with the aspiration of becoming an educator and one day returning to contribute to her community.
For both of them, education is more than a pathway to earning a diploma. It is a gateway to expanding their life choices and demonstrating that Orang Rimba children, including girls, have the same opportunity to pursue their dreams.
PT SAL’s support is part of that journey — opening access, providing guidance, and helping young members of the Orang Rimba community gain the knowledge and skills they need to shape their own futures.
Source: Sawit Indonesia
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