Jakarta – The global non-profit organization, NAMA Foundation, is planning to collaborate with the University of Indonesia (UI) on the Empowerment of Education and Civil Society Organization (CSO) program. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NAMA and UI is expected to be signed soon.
Nurdin Erwin, Director of Career Development and Alumni at UI, outlined that the collaboration encompasses three key areas: the provision of scholarships by NAMA Foundation to UI students at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels; a youth character development program; and the absorption of UI alumni into the workforce.
“We can channel scholarships to UI undergraduate alumni who will continue to the master’s level, as well as to master’s alumni who will continue to the doctoral level,” explained Nurdin at the UI campus in Depok on Wednesday (19/9).
For the scholarship program this year, NAMA Foundation has allocated funds amounting to 100,000 euros through its local partner in Indonesia, PT Nice Indonesia. The total funds disbursed by NAMA through PT Nice for all educational and CSO activities in Indonesia this year reach 1.5 million euros.
Not limited to Indonesia, the social institution founded by Sedco, a construction and finance company from Saudi Arabia, also focuses on conducting similar programs in four other countries: Lebanon, Palestine, Tanzania, and Kyrgyzstan.
“NAMA allocates at least 5 million to 6 million euros to these five focus countries through their respective local partners. This amount does not include what NAMA Foundation directly channels,” stated Rantala Sikayo, Executive of Wafa Indonesia, part of the consortium of PT Nice that includes social and educational institutions like Dompet Dhuafa, Baznas, and others.
Rantala Sikayo mentioned that NAMA Foundation is committed to supporting PT Nice’s funding for five years, with an evaluation planned for the sustainability of the program.
In line with youth potential development, NAMA Foundation, in collaboration with BEM UI 2018, organized an event titled S3 (Socioentrepeneurship Seminar and Social-Community Festival). This event, held at the UI Convention Center, comprised three activities: Socioentrepreneurship Seminar, a business plan socioentrepreneurship competition, and a social-community festival.
S3 is part of the NAMA Foundation International Conference and Expo (NICX), collaborating with UI and participating as a collaborator in UI Career and Scholarship Expo XXVI held on September 20-22 at UI.
During the event, NAMA Foundation provided information about empowerment programs in the education and CSO sectors, presented by associate program representatives. Alumni and graduates from universities across Indonesia were also given the opportunity to be part of these programs to enhance the capacity of Indonesian society.
The S3 seminar aimed to enhance the knowledge of social and socioentrepreneurial activists on maximizing their social projects. The social-community festival served as a platform for youth to connect with social and environmental communities within UI, fostering mutual understanding and maximizing their respective potentials.
The S3 event, particularly the socioentrepreneurship seminar, featured expert speakers such as Faisal Ramli (founder of Waroeng Sehat) and Andreas Senjaya (founder of iGrow). Dr. Saleh Bazead, CEO of NAMA Foundation, also participated as the main speaker during the seminar.
“It is hoped that participants can gain a lot of knowledge, motivation, and inspiration after hearing the success stories of the speakers in building their businesses or social activities,” said Dasril Guntara, CEO of PT Nice Indonesia.
January 27, 2024 
