Astra’s Solidarity Movement #SemangatSalingBantu Aid Packages for Indonesia

Astra’s Solidarity Movement #SemangatSalingBantu Aid Packages for Indonesia

JAKARTA: It took forty-eight hours to cross the sea, to wait for boats that run without fixed schedules, while the sun was scorching above. But these challenges, and more, did not deter 40-year-old Biwi Suwito from distributing Astra’s Solidarity Movement’s aid packages to villages in the Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau.

He took a 295 kilometers journey from Pekanbaru to Tembilahan City in the Indragiri Hilir Regency. To reach his destinations, he traveled by road and rivers and had to change boats.

By the time he arrived in Tembilahan City, he still had to work his way down the river in a wooden boat to reach the 20 beneficiary villages scattered across several islands. Ten of them were in Plangeran and Teluk Belengkong subdistricts, located 160 kilometers away from the city and could only be reached by wooden boats.

The journey took 20 hours, and the boat, carrying 10 tonnes of aid packages, was once trapped under a bridge due to the high tide. The crew had to wait overnight in the silent Indragiri River until the water receded.

However, his effort paid off as soon as he arrived and saw the smiles of the local residents from a distance. The smiles and handwaves of the people aimed at him seemed to be the antidote to the tiredness from the long journey.

“I learned many things from delivering the aid packages. I am especially grateful for being able to help other people,” said Biwi Suwito.

Biwi Suwito was one of many involved in distributing aid packages to underprivileged people affected by the pandemic to help them meet their daily needs for some time to come.

“Astra will distribute aid to 34 provinces throughout Indonesia in stages. Astra is always with the community, health workers, and the government in dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Astra’s Chief of Corporate Affairs, Riza Deliansyah.

101,166 Uploads for #SemangatSalingBantu

Until its closing on September 7, 2021, the solidarity movement #SemangatSalingBantu had collected 101,166 messages uploaded to social media by public figures, health workers, and the wider community.

Many took pictures with messages written on a piece of paper containing words of encouragement for those who are battling COVID-19 pandemic at the frontline and invitation to participate in the #SemangatSalingBantu movement.

One interesting example is the #SemangatSalingBantu message uploaded by public figure Gritte Agatha that says, “To those of you who are now struggling to survive in this difficult situation, keep your spirits up. Don’t give up #SemangatSalingBantu.”

Astra, through Nurani Astra, had converted the 101,166 uploaded messages into 101,166 aid packages in the form of ready-to-eat meals and staple food and distributed them in stages to various regions in Indonesia, such as the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java, West Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sumatra, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra.

Astra also collaborated with Halodoc to provide 7,600 coupons comprising Halofit vouchers (@Rp100.000) & GoFood vouchers (@Rp 200,000) for people who tested positive for COVID-19. They could get the vouchers by uploading their PCR test results using the link in the Halodoc application.

All the donations above resulted from converting social media uploads of the #SemangatSalingBantu movement, which was launched by Astra on August 2, 2021, in celebration of the 76th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence.

Each successful social media content uploaded with the hashtag #SemangatSalingBantu and mentioned @satu_indonesia (Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter) or Semangat Astra Terpadu (Facebook), Astra converted it into one aid package containing staple food for COVID-19 patients and communities affected by the pandemic.

Astra distributed the aid packages with the help of 31 Astra Group’s Regional Coordinators and various Astra Communities consisting of figures behind Kampung Berseri Astra and Desa Sejahtera Astra, recipients of the SATU Indonesia Awards, and Yayasan Amaliah Astra.

Astra’s spirit in supporting the achievement of a Resilient Indonesia and a Growing Indonesia through the #SemangatSalingBantu movement is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and Astra’s mission to Prosper with the Nation.

For further information, please contact:

Boy Kelana Soebroto
Head of Corporate Communications
PT Astra International Tbk
Ph.021-508-43-888

About Astra

PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.

Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business divisions: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, 5) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.

Astra Group conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of more than 238 companies, including subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, and was supported by more than 188,000 employees, as of March 2021.

As one of the largest national business groups in Indonesia today, Astra has built a strong reputation through offering a range of quality products and services, taking into account the implementation of good corporate and environmental governance. Astra always aspires to be the pride of the nation that participates in efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Astra's business activities strive to apply a balanced mix in the commercial aspects of business and non-business contributions through 9 foundations and a variety of sustainable social responsibility programmes, namely Astra Untuk Indonesia Sehat, Astra Untuk Indonesia Cerdas, Astra Untuk Indonesia Hijau and Astra Untuk Indonesia Kreatif.

Astra initiated the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards programme, which has entered its eleventh year, and has given recognition awards to 397 young Indonesians, consisting of 70 national level recipients and 327 provincial level recipients in the fields of Health, Education, the Environment, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which are integrated with Astra’s wide range of community activities through 116 Kampung Berseri Astra and 755 Desa Sejahtera Astra initiatives in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

For further information, please visit www.astra.co.id & www.satu-indonesia.com, and follow Astra through Instagram (@satu_Indonesia), Youtube (SATU Indonesia), Facebook (Semangat Astra Terpadu) and Twitter (@satu_Indonesia).