The Heliconia Scholarship Foundation wants to expand our Heliconia Community in the upcoming years. We have a 'dedicated community' as one of our core values. Our community involves everyone who is part of the foundation: the board members in the Netherlands, the cooperation partners in Indonesia, the students, the graduates, and everyone else who cooperates with us. Over the years, the foundation has contributed to the personal development of all involved, by enabling them to learn new skills and gain new experiences.
We like to encourage that the Heliconia Community is a development project for everyone, a place where we can learn and grow together. Therefore, we also like to work together with upcoming talents. For example, when we needed new photos for the website, cooperation partner Naomi approached a starting Indonesian photographer, Shafira, to take pictures of all students and their universities. This gave the photographer the opportunity to connect her name to the foundation and to generate income for her starting company. We are very happy with the pictures, thank you Shafira! When we need new promotional materials, such as flyers to distribute in the shelters, Naomi will look for more upcoming talents. In this way, the Heliconia Scholarship Foundation supports not only its staff and students but also everyone else involved.
We have become better at our work, by actively investing in each other, learning from each other, and staying committed. Graduates are now helping with the selection and guidance of new students. Since our graduates were raised in shelters, just like our students, they understand the specific challenges and needs of our students when entering student life. With the help of our graduates and annual events like the bazaar at Hati Suci shelter, students, graduates, and cooperation partners can share their experiences, knowledge, and skills. We also intend for the board members in the Netherlands to visit Indonesia every few years, to get to know each other better and renew personal bonds. Both staff and students feel most motivated to give their best when being aware of each other's efforts in making this charity a success. It enables us to keep up our good work.
Picture above: Sherly, Naomi, Mili, Veronica, Sefta, and Susi after the bazaar at Hati Suci shelter.
Pictures below are all made by Shafira!
