Deep within the lush rainforest of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, a child’s tender voice saying “Thank you!” in Chinese echoes from a rural kindergarten. The clear and accurate pronunciation is the most touching response to a Chinese enterprise taking root locally and building bonds through sincerity.
PT. Shenhua Guohua Lion Power Indonesia under CHN Energy has built a wall-less Confucius Institute deep in the rainforest, grounded in improving livelihoods, connected through cultural exchange, and strengthened by goodwill, allowing China-Indonesia friendship to take firm root and flourish on this land.
Creating opportunities through better livelihoods
In the past, villagers living around the rainforest mainly relied on rubber tapping and palm fruit harvesting, earning meager and unstable incomes. After the company was established, it hired more than 2,000 local workers during construction and has continued to provide over 500 stable jobs during operation, enabling villagers to secure livelihoods close to home without leaving their families behind.
Teachers and students express their gratitude in their own way
Rather than simply providing assistance, the company has focused on empowering local people with skills. Based on the operational needs of the power plant, it designed systematic training programs for Indonesian employees, covering equipment operation, troubleshooting and management capabilities to support all-round professional growth. Many workers who once had no technical background have grown into key technicians, and 10 Indonesian employees have now taken on important management positions, achieving both career advancement and higher incomes.
Stable incomes have brightened local lives. Simple huts have been replaced by sturdy brick houses, and walking has given way to motorcycles for transportation. These visible improvements have deeply impressed villagers with the sincerity and sense of responsibility demonstrated by the Chinese enterprise.
Building mutual understanding through culture
To break down communication barriers, the company placed bilingual Chinese-Indonesian signs throughout workshops, cafeterias and dormitories, creating an immersive language-learning environment. It also introduced incentive mechanisms for Chinese language learning, awarding performance bonuses to employees who use Chinese in workplace communication, greatly encouraging enthusiasm for learning.
Inside the workshop, Chinese engineer Mr. Li points to a precision device and reminds colleagues, “This component requires regular sealing inspections.” Indonesian technician Boxian immediately replies fluently in Chinese, “Understood, I’ll arrange it right away.” While waiting in line for meals, Indonesian employee Adai often greets her Chinese colleagues warmly in Chinese: “Today’s fried rice is delicious.” From learning individual words and phrases at the beginning to carrying out complete conversations today, Chinese has gradually become the common language for efficient collaboration within the plant. Increasingly smooth communication has not only improved efficiency, but also dissolved barriers between people from different countries.
Local employees make Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns by hand
Whenever traditional Chinese festivals arrive, the plant becomes a shared space of celebration for employees from both countries. During the Spring Festival, workers hang lanterns and make dumplings together; during the Dragon Boat Festival, they prepare zongzi (glutinous rice dumpling) and learn about the traditions; during the Mid-Autumn Festival, they craft lanterns and taste mooncakes. Chinese employees always warmly invite their Indonesian colleagues to join the celebrations. After learning to make zongzi in the cafeteria, Indonesian employee Dwipa even brought some home for his family and enthusiastically explained the customs of the Dragon Boat Festival to them. Through repeated moments of sincere sharing, Chinese culture has naturally become part of the lives of Indonesian employees.
Strengthening bonds through kindness
The company has spared no effort in supporting education. The company has long carried out its “Caring for Education and Nurturing the Future” initiative, donating teaching materials, sports equipment and educational supplies worth 350 million Indonesian rupiah (about 19,668 USD) to nearby rural schools, carefully protecting the educational dreams of children in the rainforest. The children’s spontaneous “thank you” is the most beautiful result of the company’s long-term care and companionship.
Whenever local emergencies occur, the company has also become the villagers’ most reliable support. During the dry season, when forest fires frequently break out, Chinese employees quickly mobilized firefighting equipment and worked with local villages to successfully extinguish three forest fires, protecting the homes on which villagers depend for survival. When floods struck, the company immediately donated urgently needed relief supplies worth 100 million Indonesian rupiah (about 5618 USD) to support disaster response efforts and help affected residents through the crisis.
Local students offer handprint gifts to thank the project donors
During major holidays, the company brings its goodwill into local communities, celebrating Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha together with villagers. In daily life, the company also regularly arranges health checkups for local employees. These practical acts of kindness, carried out with genuine care, have steadily deepened trust and friendship through mutual goodwill.
Though it has no walls, every corner serves as a classroom; though it has no podium, warmth is shared at all times. This rainforest Confucius Institute, built upon livelihoods, culture and goodwill, has allowed the tree of China-Indonesia friendship to grow deep roots and flourish with lush branches. Remaining firmly rooted in the rainforest and true to its original mission, the company continues to nurture harmonious development between enterprise and community through responsibility and kindness.
