To create an inclusive environment on palm oil plantations, supporting facilities are essential, particularly for mothers who work or live nearby. A key feature of the facility is a daycare center specifically designed for the children of employees.
The daycare facilities across Astra Agro’s subsidiaries are well-equipped with various amenities, including a playroom filled with educational games and an outdoor play area with playground equipment such as swings, slides, and seesaws. The daycare is carefully designed to ensure the safety and comfort of children.
The primary objective of the daycare is to meet children’s basic needs for early education, play activities, and adequate rest while their parents are at work. Children who can be enrolled in the daycare range from 1 year to kindergarten age, with a maximum age of 6 years.
The caregivers at the daycare are selected employees with expertise in early childhood education, including kindergarten teachers hired by the company, nurses from the garden polyclinic (polibun), and local posyandu (community health center) volunteers.
One parent who has benefited from the daycare facility is Erlina Sari, the wife of an employee at PT Perkebunan Lembah Bhakti (PLB) in Kilangan village, Aceh Singkil district, Aceh province. Erlina has been utilizing the daycare services since her second child, Zia, was just 1.5 years old. She previously entrusted her first child, who is now 11, to the same facility. Thus, Erlina has been using this daycare service for approximately 13 years.
Erlina and her husband have confidently entrusted PT PLB with the care of their children while they work, picking them up after the workday ends. Erlina expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thanks to the daycare facility from PLB, I can help my husband meet our household needs. The staff is trustworthy, the environment is comfortable, and my two children are proof of the support that daycare provides to parents as they manage work and childcare.”
Similarly, the daycare facility has aided other employees, including Tina, a caregiver and mother. Tina currently entrusts her youngest child, who is two years old, to the company’s daycare. “I greatly appreciate the daycare facilities provided by Astra Agro. The daycare has sufficient resources, ensuring the children feel comfortable, so I don’t worry while I’m at work,” she stated. Additionally, Tina’s older child, who attends a company-supported elementary school, benefits from a free school bus shuttle service provided by Astra Agro, which helps Tina balance her work and family responsibilities.
Empowering Parents Through Parenting Education
In addition to daycare facilities, the company also promotes education on children’s growth and development through parenting coaching offered at posyandu (Health post center), focusing on women in the plantation area. These coaching sessions emphasize proper nurturing, guidance, and education, vital for cultivating the next generation. One of the advocates for this program is Lina Agustina, a housewife who shares her parenting knowledge through toddler classes at her posyandu.
“Posyandu empowers women, especially housewives who serve as cadres, to lead the charge in realizing a healthy community,” explained Febriansyah, Community Development Area Manager of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk in Central Kalimantan.
As a mother of two, Lina is driven to share her parenting experiences with others. Through the posyandu, she developed a toddler class that enhances children’s sensory and motor skills, thereby supporting the overall development of the nation’s next generation. “A mother’s intuition in understanding her children’s needs is vital in providing community-based services. This is reflected in our creation of interactive and engaging health programs like toddler classes,” added Lina.
Facilitated by PT GSIP-AMR, Posyandu Teratai provides monthly balanced nutrition during its activities. Lina noted that effective child development is closely linked to good parenting practices, which include ensuring nutritional needs are met through balanced diet guidelines. This initiative has even gained recognition at the Astra Festival as an innovative corporate social responsibility (CSR) program in the health sector.
Establishing adequate daycare facilities and parenting coaching programs on palm oil plantations represents a crucial step toward fostering an inclusive work environment. By supporting mothers, these facilities can enhance women’s participation in the workforce, including leadership roles.
Creating an inclusive work environment allows palm oil plantations to serve as successful models that blend economic advancement with social responsibility.
