Growing Together: Building Trust and Fostering Community Self-Reliance

Community engagement at PT Mayawana Persada integrates cultural bridge-building with targeted Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. Led by local social liaisons and CSR specialists, the company addresses rural priorities through stunting prevention and health education, teacher capacity-building via the Mayawana Mengajar literacy initiative, and participatory micro-economic ventures in livestock and aquaculture.

For field specialists like Petrus Litang and Bella, who spend their days visiting villages across the concession, real progress is measured in plain, everyday terms. It is not about statistics in a report, but tangible stories on the ground: wooden huts rebuilt with sturdy concrete, local youth pursuing high school education, and mothers actively learning how to manage family nutrition.

Transformation like this doesn't happen overnight. Having walked alongside the villagers since the beginning, Petrus Litang remembers how tough things used to be. The company's presence gradually opened up new avenues for local families to rebuild their livelihoods.

Cultural Identity as a Foundation for Dialogue

Earning trust in rural communities presents unique social challenges, particularly regarding initial concerns over land designation. For Petrus, resolving misunderstandings requires honest communication grounded in shared cultural values.

Drawing on his own Dayak heritage, Petrus engages local residents with deep cultural respect, bridging sub-tribal differences. "When we talk about Dayak identity, we stand as one family," he explains. "When I visit the villages, I view the youth as my younger siblings and the elders as my own parents."

This personal, family-centered approach positions field officers as accessible bridges between corporate management and local residents, ensuring concerns are resolved through direct, constructive dialogue.

Participatory CSR: Health, Education, and Sustainable Livelihoods

Complementing social dialogue, Assistant CSR Manager Veronika Bella Cynthia focuses on designing programs that build long-term self-reliance rather than short-term dependency.

CSR initiatives are co-created through direct consultations with villagers to address their specific needs:

• Community Health & Stunting Prevention: Medical professionals are brought directly to villages to deliver nutritional guidance and train parents on child growth monitoring. 
• Education (Mayawana Mengajar): Active in Sekucing Labai, this initiative strengthens rural education by providing specialized training for local primary school teachers (such as at SDN 35). 
• Productive Livelihoods: Through participatory workshops, the company and residents develop community-managed livestock (goat and pig farming) and aquaculture projects matched to local resources. 

By pairing culturally grounded dialogue with practical empowerment programs, PT Mayawana Persada demonstrates that commercial forestry can operate responsibly while actively strengthening local community self-reliance. Ultimately, true regional stewardship is not defined by trees alone, but by the confidence and capability of local families to shape their own future.