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Rooted in Place, Ready for the World: Why SDH Global Bali Matters

As societies become increasingly interconnected, education faces a growing challenge: preparing young people for a global future without disconnecting them from the communities, cultures, and values that shape who they are.

This challenge is especially meaningful in Bali, where a rich cultural heritage continues to guide everyday life while the island becomes ever more connected to the world. For the next generation, success should not require choosing between embracing global opportunities and preserving local identity. Great education enables both.

It is this belief that inspired the establishment of SDH Global Bali, the newest member of the Pelita Harapan Group (PHG) education ecosystem. Officially inaugurated on 1 July 2026, the school marks PHG's 70th campus in more than three decades of expanding access to quality education across Indonesia. Designed to serve students from Kindergarten through High School, SDH Global Bali will eventually welcome up to 850 students.

For PHG, however, a new school represents far more than institutional growth. Every campus is built with the understanding that education must respond to the community it serves. Each region has its own aspirations, strengths, and cultural context, and meaningful education begins by recognising those differences rather than applying a single model everywhere.

This philosophy is reflected in SDH Global Bali. The school is designed not only to prepare students for higher education and an increasingly interconnected world, but also to nurture the character, cultural awareness, and sense of responsibility that enable them to contribute meaningfully wherever life takes them.

As Stephanie Riady, President of Pelita Harapan Group, shared during the inauguration, educating the next generation is a shared responsibility. Families, schools, governments, and communities each play an essential role in creating an environment where children can flourish. When these partners work toward a common purpose, education extends beyond academic achievement to cultivate integrity, compassion, leadership, and a commitment to serving others.

This vision resonates strongly with the aspirations expressed by the Denpasar City Government during the inauguration. In welcoming PHG to Bali, the city highlighted the importance of developing future generations who are intellectually capable, culturally grounded, and equipped to contribute positively to society. It also underscored the need to balance global competitiveness with the preservation of the values and traditions that define Bali's identity.

These shared aspirations reflect a broader understanding of education's role in society. Schools are not simply places where knowledge is transferred. They are communities where young people develop the confidence to think critically, the empathy to understand others, and the character to navigate an increasingly complex world without losing sight of who they are.

Ultimately, the impact of education cannot be measured only by examination results or graduation ceremonies. Its true value emerges over time—in the choices students make, the communities they strengthen, and the lives they influence. As Stephanie Riady often reminds us, the work of a school continues long after students leave its classrooms, as each generation carries forward the values and opportunities it has received.

The opening of SDH Global Bali is therefore more than the inauguration of a new campus. It represents a long-term investment in people and in the future of Indonesia—one that believes children can remain deeply rooted in their identity while developing the knowledge, skills, and perspective to engage confidently with the world.