A LETTER FROM BRO RAYMOND LIEW AND SIS IRENE

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From: Raymond Liew
Sent: 26 December 2008 01:07
Subject: Season of Giving - Sharing , Caring and doing it together  for the same goals

Dear beloved family and friends,

This year has been a rather erratic year with numerous ups and downs.
Nevertheless, It gave us the opportunity to view  life in a totally
different perspective. Hence we have decided to celebrate this Christmas in
a very different manner.  Instead of to spend money on Christmas presents,
lavish dinners and of course clothes to look nice, we have decided to use
the money in making this season merrier for the needy. This brought to the
miraculous discovery of a real life Santa.

We like to share the experience and joy with all those close to us and
present to you a gift that will grow upon us. This real life Santa is no
other than SIA pilot captain Mr. Budi Soehardi that founded and funded with
his wife the Roslin orphanage ( www.roslinorphanage.org ) in one of the
poorest region in Indonesia , Kupang, West Timor Province in Indonesia. It is amazing
how one couple's paasion to help the needy had flourished to an organization
which is self sustainable and growing organically through bringing people
together from all walks of life. From the first meeting we felt we have
known Budi for years and blown-away by the stories of social
entrepreneurship. We have learn from this brief conversation with Budi about
the meaning of giving as follow:

1)    Everyone can give in a big way! - Giving need not be only in
monetary form but can also be in other forms as the gifts are not measured
by its valued but rather the effect it has to those who need it. Simple
things like inspiring the orphans with a simple life story is already a form
of giving in a big way. These kids are taken care unconditionally to succeed
in life and contribute back to their hometown. The biggest orphan now is 19
years old and is a 1st year Medical Student in Indonesia and pledges to
return to help his hometown when he graduates. Budi encourages us to get
more youth to visit the orphanage as he believes it will change their
mindset and one day encourage them to do good to society hence multiplying
the effects of the orphanage. The best of all is to make them realizing how lucky they are and ultimately  will grow respect to their parents for providing so many things for them during their up bringing.

2)    When we give we receive as well! -  A couple came to visit the
orphanage to provide physical help in building a new dormitory due to the
increase of orphans.  This couple intended to support only in physical help
as they are not too fond of kids(deemed too noisy and annoying) and do not
plan to have any kids of their own. They painstakingly helped to built the
dormitory for a week using the most rudimentary methods from morning to
dawn. On the last day before their departure, they were having dinner and
the kids started to approach them. Beginning to feel uncomfortable, the wife
suddenly got her eyes stuck to two kids of which one is 18 months and
another is 24 months. What captured her attention despite feeling so
awkward, was that the two babies were feeding themselves quietly.
Immediately she asked Budi how they he trained them to be so obedient and
independent. Budi told them that he never teach them  to feed themselves and
that they have learnt it by themselves. This gave her a different perception
that children can be not as what she previously thinks and has since tried
to have her own kids. She commented in Budi's blog that instead of going to
the orphanage to help, she felt that she was the one getting the help
instead of the orphans.

3)    Give a man a fish and it will feed him for a day , teach a man to
fish it will feed him as long as he lives! - Budi believes that only through
education can the orphans and the needy liberate themselves  from poverty.
The orphanage not only has a library opened to all children to access but
also a mobile library that runs around the area to provide the service to
under privilege children. The books that we have donated seem more needed
than food stuff (The orphanage is self sufficient, more than 18 tons of rice
can be harvested from its own Padi field). We hope to one day assist Budi to
achieve his dream of setting up a free school for all under-privilege
children in the area.  Some retired teachers from Australia might be
available to spend 3 months in a year to provide basic English lessons.

4)    Everyone's effort to give has a collective effect ! - The success of
the orphanage lies with the help of each and every donor that collectively
impacts the well being of the children. For example we are able to send
gifts to kupang easily just by dropping it at Budi's place in Singapore with

no questions asked. The gifts will be hand carried by Budi's supporters and friends to Jakarta where two helpers will collect them and store them in Budi's Jakarta House.When sizeable amount of goods
are collected they will be arranged to send by overland transport to
Surabaya where a person that Budi helped previously will ship them free of
charge to Kupang with his two vessels. Without the help of any of the
parties this would not be possible.

Example of the outcome of unconditional giving =
This cute and chubby baby is  Martina. She was adopted by the orphanage due
to the family situation which cannot provide her the proper care. When she
was adopted she was merely a skeletal under nutritious baby that needed
urgent attention. Hence she was flown to Jakarta for medical care (Under
drip for few weeks) together with 2 more similar fate children. Now she has
recovered and is now a very healthy baby. Just imagine few months back she
was living in the following house and what could be her fate if she was not
attended to.

Martina's original house  :       

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and happy new year.

Best wishes to you and family,

Raymond Liew and Irene Tan