Jakarta, February 1, 2012 -- GE Indonesia was announced as the winner of Indonesia Millennium Development Goals Awards (IMA) 2011 for the category of Private Companies improving access to potable water and basic sanitation by the Office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia's Special Envoy for the Millennium Development Goals. GE Indonesia President and CEO Handry Satriago accepted the award on behalf of the company in a ceremony in Jakarta yesterday. The award, handed over by Minister for Public Works, Djoko Kirmanto, is recognition for GE's initiative in improving the piping of clean water going into two villages affected by the Merapi volcanic eruption in 2010.
"We are very proud of this award for it is the reflection of our continuing support for the Indonesian communities around us especially in hard times," said Handry Satriago. "Our employees showed their dedication as volunteers to make this project a success."
GE (General Electric) through its philanthropic entity, GE Foundation, donated around Rp 224,000,000 (US$ 24,000) to Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to build water installation and network in Gondoarum and Ngembesan villages near Sleman, Yogyakarta, where GE Lighting's facility is located. In mid-March 2011, the project was completed by the Habitat team with the full field support of the local GE Volunteers.
The heavy rainfall drove cold lava flow of the Merapi down the mountain, into the villages, affecting the water piping. In December, the Volunteers came back with their Habitat allies to repair it, and to build public bathroom and toilets for the neighboring village of Balerante. The whole network of clean water supports the lives of around 600 families.
"The theme of this year's IMA is 'Beraksi Untuk Negeri' (Action for the Nation), and the winners embodied the spirit of contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in this country," said Nila F. Moeloek, President of the Republic of Indonesia's Special Envoy for the Millennium Development Goals.
"These awards are the appreciation for the real contribution many had made for the improvement of human situation," said Vice President Boediono in his speech at the event. There are currently 3 MDGs that Indonesia is focusing on, maternity mortality rate, HIV/AIDS, and access to clean water and sanitation.
GE Indonesia has been providing relief assistance for the communities surrounding Yogyakarta, where, surviving the Merapi volcanic eruption since 2007, supporting the installation of GE's donated Water Purification unit, and reinstalled it once again after the 2010 eruption. The GE Volunteers had been leading relief programs since the first eruption, and partnering with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to drive home rebuilding projects for affected families.
This is the second time GE Indonesia won the Indonesia MDGs Award. The first was for GE Money-driven financial literacy program for disadvantaged women in 2009.
About GE
GE (General Electric) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. GE has been present in Indonesia since 1940 and today all of GE's businesses are present in the country, from healthcare, infrastructure, energy, aviation, rail, and lighting for cities. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com or its Indonesian page www.ge.com/id/in
About GE Volunteers
GE Volunteers is the organization of volunteering GE employees around the world. The Indonesia chapter has been running community programs as a way to give back to the communities around its operations, in the areas of health, education, disaster relief, and environment since 1997. In 2007, GE as a global company earned the US State Department's Award for Corporate Excellence for the community and relief work done by the company and its volunteering employees for the south Asia tsunami, and for programs in education.
Inggita Notosusanto
GE Corporate Manager - Communications
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