From a Gift to a (Lasting) Partnership
What began as a company gift for a special occasion has grown into something far more meaningful:
a long-term partnership that supports environmental education for children on Bunaken Island.
The programme brings students outside the classroom and into the ecosystem they are learning to protect.
Through lessons on the beach, in the water and around the island, children learn about marine ecosystems, plastic pollution, waste management and the importance of protecting their own environment.
Roba is a global metal company, but its culture is rooted in more than economic success.
Responsibility, sustainability, and humanity are values that the company says should shape the way it operates and the relationships it builds.
When the team began discussing a gift for CEO Paul Cohn, a conventional present simply did not feel right.
Instead, they decided to make a contribution that could have a lasting impact.
A small gesture that grew
But let’s take a step back.
Corinna , an employee of Roba, visited Siladen Resort & Spa some years ago. She met Ana, manager at the resort, and became familiar with her work and involvement in North Sulawesi. So, when Roba employees were looking for an organisation to support with the special gift, they already had something that an online search could not provide: a trusted personal connection to someone who knew the region and the local conservation work firsthand.
Corinna reached out to Ana, and that conversation eventually led them to the No-Trash Triangle Initiative (NTTI).
For the company anniversary event, NTTI prepared a “thank you” video that could explain to Paul, and to all the participants, what this gift was intended to support.
The original donation was intended as a single gift, but it did not end there.
In Paul Cohn's words
When Paul learned that his colleagues had made a donation to NTTI in his name, the gesture came as a genuine surprise.
What do you remember about that moment?
“It truly surprised me. It was a gesture that went beyond appreciation.”
The purpose behind the gift made it feel different from a conventional company present. It was personal, and linked to work with a tangible impact. He also remembers the video NTTI created to thank him.
“The warmth and the authenticity. It was one of those moments when you feel how far a small gesture can reach.”
That sense of authenticity is also what convinced him to continue supporting NTTI.
In fact, Paul saw that a contribution could support something very concrete: environmental education for children on Bunaken Island through NTTI's School on the Beach programme.
“Children learn about their own ecosystem, so they can protect the future of Bunaken.”
What began as a gift has now developed into two years of continued support for the programme.
And for Roba, this evolution reflects something important about the way the company approaches giving. Support does not necessarily need to start with a formal CSR programme or a large commitment. Sometimes it starts with a conversation between colleagues, a personal connection, or simply the desire to do something meaningful.
What made you want to continue supporting NTTI?
“The sincerity of NTTI’s work. The combination of education, environmental protection, and local involvement resonated deeply with me.”
For Paul, the value of the partnership goes beyond a single project or donation.
“Their dedication. Their humanity. Their impact. It didn’t feel like a project; it felt like a responsibility.”
Starting small, creating something lasting
Two years on, that original gesture is helping children on Bunaken understand and protect the marine environment around them. As Roba puts it, companies do not only have a responsibility towards economic success. The larger their footprint becomes, the greater their responsibility towards people, communities and the world they share.
If you’re looking for a way to turn that first step into something meaningful, you can do the same.
Support NTTI’s work and help create lasting impact for communities and the environment.
To learn more about supporting our work, reach us at info@no-trashtriangle.org