PT Freeport Indonesia, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Funds the Education of the first pilot of the Moni Tribe

Dec 1, 2015 8:30 AM ET

Alion Belau, the first pilot from the Moni people, graduated from the Genesah Flight Academy in Jakarta with the highest academic rank. Mr. Belau’s education was funded by PT Freeport-Indonesia’s Partnership Fund for Community Development (LPMAK).

After graduating from junior high school, Mr. Belau applied for a scholarship to study outside the region of Papua from the Amungme and Kamoro Community Development Agency (LPMAK), a non-profit organization managing the partnership fund from PT Freeport Indonesia. The LPMAK funded his high school education and English fluency education, whereupon he qualified for and was selected for flight school in the United States. Upon acquiring his Private Pilot License in Texas, he returned to Indonesia and attended Genesah Flight Academy in Jakarta. He graduated in September 2015.

The Moni people are one of the seven kindred tribes in the Mimika Regency of Papua.

Mr. Belua now works as a professional pilot for PT Aviosindo Perkasa. 

To learn more about the Freeport Partnership Fund for Community Development, the Lembaga Pengembangan Masyarakat Amungme & Kamoro (LPMAK), please see http://www.fcx.com/sd/community/comm_indo.htm

Please see the 2014 Working Toward Sustainable Development Report for more information on all of their social, economic and environmental efforts.