NTT: CNN HERO'S ORPHANAGE FACES FUNDING PROBLEMS

UNCLAS SURABAYA 000092 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/PD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI ECON PGOV ID SUBJECT: NTT: CNN HERO'S ORPHANAGE FACES FUNDING PROBLEMS ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: CNN hero Soehardi Budi operates and funds the Roslin Orphanage in Kupang, the capital of Nusa Tenggara Timor (NTT). This orphanage provides refuge for 46 children, operates a farm and provides mobile library services to surrounding villages. Mr. Budi was recently fired from his employment putting the future of the orphanage at risk until new funding is identified. END SUMMARY Roslin Orphanage Operations -------------- ¶2. (U) CNN named Soehardi Budi one of its "Heroes" in 2009 for his sponsorship of the Roslin Orphanage. The orphanage is located just outside the city of Kupang, the largest city in West Timor and capital of the Nusa Tenggara Timor province, one of the poorest in Indonesia. This orphanage houses 47 children ranging in age from 1 to 19 years old, from both local villages and refugees from Timor Leste. Budi, a native of Jogjakarta, and his wife Peggy, originally from Ambon, established the orphanage in 2002 and fund its operations entirely from Budi's salary as a pilot for Singapore Airlines. ¶3. (U) During an October 1 visit, Budi outlined the orphanage's operation to Surabaya Pol/Econ Officer. The orphanage occupies a 1.5 acre lot and includes several buildings. The main building has play rooms and an eating area. The library is well stocked with both Indonesian and English language books and several computers with internet access. The dormitory has a bed and dresser for each child. Other buildings include a garage, storage areas, and a small chapel. ¶4. (U) The Roslin Orphanage also runs its own farm. Located 40 km away from the orphanage itself, the farm produces rice, corn, and peanuts. The older children help on the farm. Budi says that this helps them learn valuable lessons about agriculture while helping the orphanage feed itself. Indeed, the orphanage produces enough rice to meet its needs and even has a surplus most years. They donate their surplus rice to the poor residents of nearby villages. The Orphanage also owns two mobile libraries -- vans stocked with books -- that provide library service to surrounding villages. In most cases, these libraries provide the only reading material available to children in the villages they visit. Surabaya donated eight copies of the Indonesian translation of "The Lorax" to the orphanage's library. Funding Challenges -------------- ¶5. (U) The Roslin Orphanage accomplishes all this with minimal outside assistance. They receive no funding from any level of government, and while outside charitable organizations have donated specific items such as the vans for the mobile libraries, Budi funds the regular operation of the orphanage himself. However, Singapore Airlines recently informed Budi that he would be laid off effective the end of October 2009. This represents a significant challenge to the future viability of the orphanage. In light of this dismissal, he is seeking alternate sources of funding. ¶6. (U) One possible funding source is outside donations. Since he was named a CNN hero earlier this year, Budi has received several donations from individuals in the United States. These donations have been made via the online money transfer system Paypal. Budi told Surabaya's Pol/Econ Officer that unfortunately Paypal will not release donations to an Indonesian entity, citing concerns about fraud. Budi is currently investigating the possibility of establishing a Non-Profit Organization in the United States that could accept these donations, allowing the orphanage to utilize them. ¶7. (U) Budi also hopes to earn sufficient money from selling his property in Jakarta and renting his family's property in Jogjakarta to pay for a few months' worth of operating costs at the orphanage. In the end though, Budi does not anticipate that these donations or the potential rental income will be sufficient to cover operating costs for long. When asked what would happen if he were unable to find another job soon, Budi replied that "the children will suffer." MCCLELLAND