Indonesian orphanage support

I was working as a volunteer International Co-operation Officer with LPTM in Makassar last year from March to July as part of the Australian Volunteer Program.

During my time there, I became good friends with a number of local families and also became familiar with the folk at the Sekolah Kristen IPEKA school.
Recently I discovered through my contacts there that one family had lost both the husband and wife to illness, leaving 4 children (the oldest being 6 years) on the streets.

I managed through my contacts at the Christian School, to have them accommodated at the Panti Asuhan Murni (Pure Orphanage) run by Mrs. Hilda and Mr Charles Tumimomor at Jl. Singa No.81, Mandala, Kec. Mamajang. The orphanage cares for up to 50 children.

I have arranged to cover the cost of the school fees, shoes, clothes, books and stationery for the oldest child (Olifana Timporok) to attend the Sekolah Kristen IPEKA School for the new academic year there. Her three younger siblings are not yet at school age.

However, through discussion between my friends and Mr and Mrs Turnimomor, I have discovered that the orphanage is in desperate need of support to cover the cost of basic food like vegetables, fruit, rice, pasta, fish and cooking oil for the children, as many of their previous supporters and donors for the orphanage have not been able to continue their contributions presumably due to the economic impacts of coronavirus there. I understand that they need at least 125-130,000 Rp per day (or $AUD12.08) to adequately feed the children there.

As a self funded retiree and regular overseas aid volunteer, I am happy to continue to contribute to Olifana’s education and presumably that of her siblings in the coming years. But I am concerned about the ongoing wellbeing of them and the other children there. So any support for feeding the 50 children in the orphanage woulld be greatly appreciated.