Orphans are the new donors

I love this story from Indonesia.  Often, we read about appeals to help orphans, making them the recipients of gifts, donations and service, and usually it stops there.  This inspiring story from Yayasan Prima Unggul tells us how orphans are giving back to society, as a way to show their gratitude.  In their own words, here: (My favourite quotes in red.:))

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Ani, 46, was raised in an orphanage, and now she is back, to send her own son there.

“I have no choice,” Ani explained, “My husband passed away and I simply can’t afford to provide for my son, much less his education.”
Situations like this are not uncommon in Indonesia, where 21 million people still live below the poverty line. Martinua Gea, 43, however, believes that there is a solution. In fact, he intends to transform 10,000 orphans into entrepreneurs.
“Traditional orphanages are sustaining a vicious poverty cycle where generations of children are raised by orphanages. We need to end this poverty cycle and stop marketing pity and poverty. We need to focus on the future and we can do this through quality education,” said Gea.
He founded Yayasan Prima Unggul (YPU), a non-profit entrepreneurship high school for orphans in February 2011. With firsthand experience growing up in an orphanage, Martin explained that an orphan’s mindset often inhibits them from success and one of YPU’s aim is thus to empower orphans.
“Everything we have, we received from others,” Gea explained, “We were dependent on others’ goodwill and always saw ourselves as powerless. We didn’t know we had it in us to do something big.”

YPU students undergo an entrepreneurship based practical education that equips them not only for success in their own lives, but also gives them a chance to contribute to society. Students run several small business units within the school, and the profits contribute to about 20% of the total operational cost to run the school and care for the students’ daily needs.
“YPU made me more independent and self-confident. I picked up many new skills by apprenticing at different companies,” YPU student, Andhika Kristian, 15, said, “I feel that I can take my skills back to my hometown and start a business after I graduate.”
Students also contribute to society by holding low-cost Mathematics and Sciences courses for elementary school children in the neighbourhood.

“I’m really happy to be guiding these students,” 16 years old Maria Densiana said, “My leadership and training skills are also improving.”
While the organisation is still highly reliant on donations, Gea hopes that in five years’ time, the school can depend on itself and spread the self-sustainable model throughout Indonesia.
“If you think orphans have nothing to give, think again. Our orphans are determined to inspire and give to society. They’re the new donors.” 

YPU urgently need funds to sustain its operations. If you wish to donate, you can do so via bank transfer. Details can be found in www.primaunggul.org/donate or touch base with Belda Kosasih at  +62 081310 358201 or email info@primaunggul.org