PACTO DMC – Indonesia’s oldest and largest destination management company, stepped up to become a major financial supporter, donating Rp. 150 million in aid of the “Ultra Marathon Jelajah Timur – Eastern Ultra Marathon Journey” (UMJT 2024) held on the Island of Lombok 24-25 October 2024.
Organized by Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia)– the grueling 100 km running event is known as the “Run for Equality.” The physical endurance challenge seeks to focus public attention on the growing water crisis in Eastern Indonesia and other parts of the Republic.
Plan International Indonesia
The Ultra Marathon Jelajah Timur (UMJT) – “Run for Equality 2024,” held for the first time on the Island of Lombok, supports Plan International Indonesia’s Community Action Programs.
Two weeks before the final fund-raising deadline of 17 November, Rp. 1.5 billion had been collected. All funds collected from donations and race proceeds will be dedicated to expanding access to clean water in two villages in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and one village in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
The endurance race’s longest and most challenging route covers a distance of 100 km from Sembalum, located on the foothills of Mount Rinjani, ending on Kuta Beach at Mandalika – a distance estimated to require at least 20 hours to complete. The marathon that attracted 72 runners was conducted over three different course distances:
- 100 km distance = 46 runners
- 50 km distance = 18 runners
- 12 km distance = 8 runners
Crossing the finish line first in the 100 km Category was Algerian Abdoullah Mitche. Ali Firki Assegaf, an Indonesian runner, came in first in the 50 km division.
The Crisis of Water
In NTT and NTB, many people still face limited access to clean water, with around 500 thousand people in 77 sub-districts seasonally afflicted by severe droughts. The worst affected are women, children, and people with disabilities who are compelled to either purchase or queue for hours to obtain water. As a result, women and girls spend large parts of their day physically fetching heavy loads of water for household needs. What’s more, the education of many women is disrupted because of the time and effort required to collect water,” explained the Executive Director of Plan Indonesia and UMJT 2024, Dini Widiastuti,
PACTO DMC Supports Plan International Indonesia
Since PACTO’s founding in 1967, as part of its continuing commitment to the community, the Company’s management and staff have always sought to play a positive role in nation-building.
Thus, when the opportunity presented to support Plan International Indonesia’s Jelajah Timur 2024 Charity Run, PACTO DMC seized the chance to embark on the latest chapter in its long and distinguished record of public service and public-minded activism.
Over the past several decades, PACTO DMC has been continuously involved in community projects stretching across the entire breadth of Indonesia, from Sumatra to far-eastern parts of Indonesia, that have included:
- Beach clean-ups.
- Financial and seedling support for reforestation.
- Providing school equipment, library books, and school stationery.
- Clothing donations for students.
- Women empowerment programs.
- Cancer care support
- Disaster relief for earthquake victims includes food, water, temporary housing, and medicine.
- School building repair and renovation.
- Provision of waste disposal bins and trash containers in tourist areas.
With 2024 shaping up to be another exceptional year for Indonesian tourism, PACTO DMC is poised to translate this prosperity into meaningful contributions to the community, particularly as Indonesia recovers in the post-pandemic era. Recognizing the importance of giving back to the community, PACTO intends to channel its resources and efforts into initiatives that support and uplift the people of Indonesia and benefit as many people as possible.
For these reasons, PACTO DMC welcomed the opportunity to support Ibu Dini Widiastuti and the vital work carried out by Plan International Indonesia to bring essential access to water in remote regions of Indonesia while also supporting an import sporting event on Indonesia’s growing annual calendar of major athletic events.
Related Links
Plan International Indonesia Website
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