Wanted! 24 Inspiring Mandala Warriors Who Made Their Dreams Come True During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jakarta, September 1, 2021 – The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the global economy. Indonesia is no exception: thousands of business owners have gone out of business, and millions of people have lost their jobs. Every effort has been made to realize the dreams and aspirations of every individual. Those who have been able to fight and survive amid the pandemic—and successfully make their dreams come true—are now being sought to become the 24 Mandala Warriors

Mandala Finance is seeking life’s warriors to serve as inspirational icons capable of realizing their dreams amid the current pandemic crisis. As a reward, a cash prize of 24 million Rupiah has been set aside for the winners whose stories are the most inspiring. “This competition is a platform for those with high spirits and a never-give-up attitude to upload short videos about their life struggles—how they persevered through every challenge until they succeeded in realizing their dreams. Dreams don’t have to be overly complicated—even simple dreams can inspire others to be more optimistic,” said Mandala Finance Director Christel Lasmana.

Mandala Finance invites the public to participate by sharing short videos via Instagram feed posts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok, with the requirement to tag or mention the @mandala_fin account and include the hashtags #24PejuangMandala and #TumbuhBersama. It is hoped that the selected stories will provide inspiration and foster a sense of optimism in the face of the current difficult circumstances. The contest will run throughout September 2021, with the voting period from October 4–18, 2021. Winners will be announced on October 25, 2021, via the @mandala_fin Instagram account.

Data released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in February 2021 revealed that the unemployment rate in Indonesia rose during the Covid-19 pandemic, reaching 19.10 million people. According to BPS findings released in July 2021, 27.54 million people—or 10.14% of Indonesia’s population—were living in poverty. This figure represents a 0.36% increase compared to March 2020. Furthermore, according to data from the Indonesian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Association (Akumindo), more than 30 million MSMEs suffered losses. It is no surprise, then, that the results of the “Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Business Owners” conducted by the BPS in 2020 showed that 69.02% of SMEs needed an injection of working capital.

Responding to these research findings, Christel Lasmana stated that this competition offers more than just prizes for the winners. “The 24 finalists will automatically receive a prize of one million rupiah. In addition, five ‘lucky voters’ who participated most actively will be selected to receive prizes worth 2.4 million Rupiah each,” she continued. Christel also hopes these prizes will help these “life warriors” realize their dreams and inspire others to remain optimistic.

This digital-based “24 Mandala Warriors” competition is part of Mandala’s 24-year commitment to becoming one of the best financing companies in Indonesia. On July 21, 2021, marking its 24th anniversary, Mandala Finance continues to provide financing solutions that help the public and MSME entrepreneurs realize their dreams.

About Mandala Finance

PT Mandala Multifinance Tbk., established on July 21, 1997, is a commercial finance company focused on financing motorcycles, electronics, furniture, and other multipurpose financing needs. As a company with over 24 years of experience in the financial services industry, Mandala is committed to growing its business in Indonesia alongside all segments of society.

Pursuant to Decree of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia No. 323/KMK.017/1997, the company obtained a business license in the field of financing institutions, thereby enabling it to conduct business activities as a commercial finance institution.

In April 2006, Mandala Finance received a recommendation from the National Sharia Council—Indonesian Ulema Council to provide sharia-compliant financing, which was subsequently approved by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) under No. KEP-125/NB.223/2015 on June 9, 2015. Mandala Finance Tbk officially became a public company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) under the ticker symbol MFIN on September 6, 2005.

As a leading multifinance company in Indonesia, in 2021 Mandala Finance received an award for “Excellent Financial Performance” in the Rp1–5 trillion asset category and the “Titanium Trophy” for “Outstanding Financial Performance” for 15 consecutive years; both awards were presented by Infobank Magazine. Additionally, in 2020, Mandala Finance received the Best Sharia Multifinance award from Investor Magazine.