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Newsletter – June 2015

Hello Everybody!

I hope this newsletter finds all graced with wellness.

June July and August have and will be very exciting times for the needy and disadvantaged people in the communities on Nias Island west of North Sumatra Indonesia.

FREE EYE CLINICS

Garren Walton a Pastor for the Apostolic Church Batemans Bay arranged a team consisting of himself; an Optometrist Phillip Taylor from the OPSM store in the Bay, Kelita Bourke from Specsavers in the Bay, Madeline Blakers a community nurse that worked in the Bay and who currently lives in Western Australia. The team worked together helping the blind to see. Free eye clinics were held on the foundation’s sight June 26 and 27. Over 300 Niasans were given eye tests and treatments. Over 250 pairs of glasses were distributed to the needy locals with poor sight thanks to the Capital Chemist Main Street at the Bay and the many community members of the Bay who donated glasses.

FREE CHIROPRACTORY CLINICS

Matt Blakers was also amongst the team who once again conducted Chiropractory clinics. This is Matt and his wife Madeline’s third visit to help our foundation. Matt was a Chiroractioner in Moruya, a community that surrounds Batemans Bay. He now practices in Western Australia.

COCONUT OIL PRODUCTS

The Coconut factory is owned by the foundations Director/Chairperson/local Niasan, Matius Wau who employs over 20 employees and provides income to over 200 local families who supply the coconuts. Matius donates 20% of his profits to the Foundation so as to run the Foundations many programs.

Lush and FTL Trading (SOCOCO) import the oil for products and distribution in Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Amongst the many that assist with this program The Olive Tree; a component to the Apostolic Church in Batemans Bay, Marketeers and individuals in surrounding communities of the Bay continue to sell our coconut oil products in support of our programs.

Since returning to my small town in Batemans Bay 2 years ago after living in Indonesia for 5 years working with the needs of many disadvantaged and starting this foundation with Matius Wau a local Niasan, it never ceases to amaze me what the powers of God can do and the way the Holy Spirit works through many.

My small town in Batemans Bay and surrounding communities have come together to help with the needs of many since my return, and continue to help with their ongoing support towards our foundation and its programs including the re- integration program (Aqua therapy) and school scholarship program. Thank you guys for your continuous support.

RE INTEGRATION PROGRAM

Providing equipment, exercises, fun and integration tools for mobility needs to the physically challenged.

SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Peter Bosker, Jill Hoffman’s brother in law continues towards the successful running of the school scholarship program. Peter’s ongoing efforts in publicizing the program and the challenges many students face in obtaining an education works towards helping these disadvantaged students on behalf of LSM Ono Niha providing opportunities for these students to attend school and after-school support provided by the program.

The AU$1.00 a day scholarship pays for the required school books, uniforms, other fees and transport to and from school for the student. In some cases it will supplement the family income because the child can not earn income while at school. Any other support is directed to an after school program concentrating on teaching English and computer skills. Matt (Chairman of the Ono Niha Foundation) oversee’s the program in Nias and Peter Bosker coordinates it from Australia. Six monthly reports of student performance are provided to the sponsors, and procedures are in place to ensure full financial accountability.

FREE DENTAL CLINICS

Jill and Peter Hofman return again for their 4^th year in a row to perform dental clinics, dental education and training during the months of July and August. Peter is the Foundations Project Officer and has been deeply responsible for successful partnership projects with World Relief Australia and the Australian Embassy in Indonesia. Jill who is a retired Dental Technician also continuously raises money in her hometown of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia for our many programs. More recently she was heavily involved with the raising of funds for Iwan Dachi’s medical expenses when he sustained multiple injuries from a motor bike accident when returning to his home after doing dental clinics for our foundation. Iwan was trained by Jill to do basic dental clinics and provide education on dental health. Iwan also runs the aqua therapy for our re integration program. Iwan is now on a slow recovery at his home after his many operations that were funded by many generous people and organizations throughout the world. Thank you to everybody. Our continuous prayers are needed for Iwans speedy recovery.

Peter will report to you all upon their return from Nias on all our programs, the latest news and the no doubt successful dental clinics.

The Foundation work would not be possible without the generous and inspirational support of many compassionate people. We would like to thank them and we look forward to more and more exciting supporters and volunteers helping in the future. Your continued support for our Foundation is sincerely appreciated.

Donations.

Australians can make tax deductable donations to Ono Niha Foundation and its programs. Go to our website https://www.ononihalsmfoundation.squarespace.com then to our contact page.

For those who are not Australian you can make payments directly to LSM Ono Niha. The details are on our contact page on our website. NB The swift code must be entered on your transfer form as this is part of Indonesian requirements so they can assure correct branch and account transaction.

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha Foundation.

May God bless each and every one of you

Patricia

Empowerment Group

Administration Officer and Director

LSM Ono Niha Foundation

Hi all and welcome to our last newsletter for 2014.

I do pray that all had a celebration of Christmas that was joyous and filled with love.

Jill and Peter Hofman (Australian-based project manager for ONF) spent 6 weeks on the Ono Niha Foundation base in south Nias in August /September. Here is their “story” (written by Peter).

We had a very busy but rewarding stay, helping with the Foundation’s programs of local employment, education, children with disabilities, community health and Holidays with Purpose. Robyn (dental assistant) and David (TESOL teacher) Hughes-Tulloh, Sandra Hofman (nurse), Tracey MacGovern (dental assistant) and Robyn Preston (teacher) helped us for 2-4 weeks at various times during our stay.

Education

The new Centre: The Ono Niha Community Development Centre is now open for business!! It was built with funds from the Netherlands and the Direct Aid Program (DAP) of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. We were very excited to work in the Centre for the first time and to dream about how the Centre will help the community.

English and computers: The DAP grant provided desks, computers, books and software for English and computer classes. The classes are planned to start this month. The Foundation will employ a dedicated teacher to conduct after school classes, initially for the scholarships students (see below), then for other students if space allows.

David spent time with several senior English teachers and visited several schools. He now has a good idea of how help the English teachers be more effective. The plan is to provide training to the local English teachers so they can give more effective lessons within the existing curriculum. David is willing to provide advice to other TESOL teachers wanting to volunteer with the Foundation. We are encouraging the students and teachers to use the small resource library and computers at the Centre.

Dental education: Volunteers yet again facilitated and assisted with dental education in the schools in local villages.

Scholarships: This program is going well, with 21 students supported by sponsors in Australia. The finances are in good shape and the procedures are working well. We met all the students and families and they were very thankful for the support received. Additional donations paid for care packages (a large bucket, rice, noodles, eggs, toothbrushes, medicines and a bath towel) for each family, plus another 5 for very poor families. We also invited the families to a celebration at the new Centre – a fun time.

The Centre is equipped with a mobile kitchen. Chef classes will train locals in chef-quality techniques regarding hygiene etc so they can work in hotels and the many surf charter vessels around the Nias and Mentawi Islands. Classes will be run when suitable volunteers are available.

Children with Physical & Intellectual challengers (Disabilities)

This has focussed on aqua therapy but will now be expanded to Centre therapy and home therapy and support.

Our mobile kitchen will also be used for this program.

Therapy at the Centre: The DAP grant purchased specialist flotation devices, pool games, therapy aids (exercise balls, dexterity games etc), several child wheelchairs and a walking frame for use in the pool and the Community Centre. David built two scooter boards (like skate boards). The children with special challengers have started to use these new resources and it was so good to see the joy in their eyes as they realise that they too are special. The children can come to the centre any weekday. One day per week the parents can leave their child at the centre and have a break. ONF now have fold up beds to sleep these children and their families.

Home therapy and support: Iwan will observe the child in their home environment to identify exercises and aids to help the child in and around the home. ONF has engaged local craftsmen to build mobility aids based on guidelines from several text books (e.g. “Disabled Village Children - a guide to community health workers, rehabilitation workers and families”). The aids will be loaned to the families for 2 month intervals (extended if required) but will remain the property of the centre.

Let me introduce Berkat. He is about 6 years old and has severe Rickets (calcium deficiency, often from lack of vitamin D). Most of his long bones are badly bent and he cannot walk. His father is on another island looking for work and his mother has to work the rubber trees. Berkat fell last month while being looked after by a friend (his mum had to work) and broke his hip. It has not set well at all. He is busting to go to school but cannot without a wheel chair and someone to help him. The Foundation will build him a wheel chair and Jill and I will support the family so they can provide Berkat with better food and calcium/Vitamin D supplements. We will raise funds for a thorough medical examination to find out how best to improve his calcium nutrition, and how to correct his legs enough so he can at least walk. In the meantime he will come to aqua therapy and the Centre whenever his mum has time to bring him. Please consider helping Berkat if you can.

We are novices on how to help these children, but we are doing our best. We desperately need advice from qualified persons, preferably by volunteering time at the Foundation base. Can you help, or do you know someone who can?

Aqua therapy: The construction of the aqua therapy pool has been delayed because of a block-making machine which we are waiting on so as to assist with the construction of the pool on the base, We kindly thank Patricia and the crew in Batemans Bay/Moiruya NSW, consisting of The Olive Tree Cafe, Ernie & Carmel Fruit markets, Nerida Bourke & Batemans Bay Highschool for helping raise the funds to help build the pool and Peter and Narelle Dart for donating funds to purchase the block-making machine to produce the blocks for the pool. The machine will also be used to establish a micro-business. Thank you Peter and Narelle

The aqua therapy classes are continuing two mornings per week with Iwan, who has received basic training in aqua therapy from Patricia and other volunteers. The classes are producing significant results. For example, Berlina (7 years old with cerebral palsy) could not bare weight on her feet but is now walking with the assistance of an adult. She is much happier. Randy (7 year old with significant physical impairment from a high fever soon after birth) can now stand by pulling himself up with a table or chair.

On-going access to the pool is at risk because the owner is selling the site and the pool is in danger of being destroyed because of continual erosion of Lagundri Beach. About $4000 has been raised so far to build a secure therapy pool on the Foundation’s base. This will ensure the future of the aqua therapy program and increase integration between the water and Centre-based therapy activities. David and Peter helped plan the construction of the pool based on Australian design standards. We hope to build the pool this year.

Community health

Dental: Jill was like a “piglet in mud” this visit. She was given about 1000 toothbrushes and about $1000 of dental supplies from Australian supporters. The DAP grant purchased a medical compressor and ultrasonic cleaner. If that was not enough, a Medan equipment supplier donated a dental chair – an old one that needed a good scrub but the basics worked. It made such a difference for the patients and for Jill. To top it all, we could set up all the equipment in the new Centre (the “surgery”) instead of on our bungalow veranda. What a difference, and much deserved for Jill after about 10 years of setting up and packing down after every clinic, working off tables and benches etc. Oh, and the other blessing was having qualified dental nurses (Tracey and Robyn) to assist – far more efficient than me trying to help.

Jill worked every week day from about 8 am - 2 pm with few of the previous years’ challenges from sore back or sciatic. Iwan did scale and cleans on the patients before seeing Jill. Together they achieved so much.

On-going: Iwan is now sufficiently skilled to continue dental hygiene sessions two mornings per week, with wages paid by ONF. These will be free until the end of the year, but from January ONF will test charging about $1 for those who can afford it (the poor will not be charged). This will hopefully provide a micro-business opportunity for Iwan. He is now working full time for the Foundation – our first full time employee!.

Jill also provided some training to Pita, who started a dental nursing degree in Medan in September this year. We will try to employ her again next year and hopefully instil the passion to take over the dental program in the future.

First aid: Sandra braved the transition from the Tasmania winter to the equator to provide first aid clinics and much-needed skills for about 2 weeks. She was given about $600 to purchase medicines and set up a first aid supply. Sandra provided basic training to allow Mimi to continue some of the first aid services. We all appreciated Sandra’s skills and enthusiasm. Thank you Sandra.

Local employment

The coconut oil factory run by Matt (the Foundation chairman) is a key employer in the local area. It is also essential to the Foundation because a profitable factory allows Matt to run the Foundation on a largely volunteer basis.

Matt and I have ongoing discussions how to improve the operating efficiency of the factory. We installed a temperature controller for the incubation room where the coconut milk is held at about 40ºC to allow separation of the oil from the milk. Matt has tried various heating options in the past but we are re-testing electric heaters in combination with the controller. The next objective is to build a system that burns the surplus coconut shell to provide clean heat for the room, and using the controller to manage the temperature.

Thanks to Dan Sole and Gary Quinn for building the temperature controller.

Lush Ltd is the major customer for the virgin coconut oil from the factory. Lyndsey and Cadi from Lush UK visited the factory in late August to view production and explore options for additional products to increase local employment. We had exciting discussions about additional coconut products, essential oils (e.g. petuli) and special cocoa butter. We were impressed with Lush’s passion for supporting small businesses to improve local wellbeing, and we are very thankful for their ongoing support and desire to build the partnership. Thank you Lyndsey and Cadi.

Holidays with Purpose

David and I removed some partitions in the smaller bungalow on the Base to provide more room and to accommodate a king and single bed. We now have two comfortable bungalows on site, each with their own kitchen and shower/toilet.

The bungalows are available for rent by volunteers, but also for those who just want to have a break from the rat race. The rent provides support for the Foundation’s programs so please consider – you will enjoy your stay and make a difference at the same time.

Thats all for now

God bless

Hi all and welcome to our newsletter.

School Scholarships

We currently have 20 children sponsored for school scholarships. Each scholarship provides books and uniforms, and transport to high school and after school tuition if required. The students are from poor families, and often single parent families or staying with relatives because both parents are not around. Thank you to the sponsors who are already changing life time opportunities for children and their families.

Peter Bosker is the co ordinator for this program. He and his wife Annette are sponsoring three students until they can find sponsors for two. Peter and his wife Annette are very caring people who could not tell the two non-sponsored children that we had not found sponsors for them at this stage, so they are sponsoring these two until other sponsors can be found. Please contact us if you would like to sponsor one of these remaining children.

Direct Aid Program (DAP)

Thanks to funding from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta the interior and furnishings of our multipurpose building are being completed. The windows, doors and ceiling are now complete and the wet area ceramics and floor tiles are next on the list.

The DAP have also provided funding for English education to local school teachers and will commence upon completion of the building and when our team of volunteers (including a certified TESOL teacher) arrive in August this year. On completion of these classes text books will be supplied to these trained teachers to take back to their schools. The text books are also kindly funded by DAP.

The DAP grant is also supporting our integration program for children with disabilities. Their funding support will help us provide mobility aids for these children and additional training for staff in support practices and aqua therapy.

Thank you so much DAP for your funding support.

Other Funding

The aqua therapy program for children with disabilities can use a small pool, but ongoing access is very uncertain. The Sandra Reemer Foundation in the Netherlands provided the initial funding to start the multi-purpose building. We developed an application to this foundation for funds to build an aqua therapy pool on the Foundation's site to guarantee the future of the aqua therapy program. However we were saddened to hear that the Sandra Reemer Foundation is no longer operating.

Yet we do not despair. Steve and Dior Mahnken has kindly donated funds toward the aqua therapy pool, so the ball is rolling. The donation will also allow the purchase of some much needed equipment for the coconut factory to help maintain the quality of the virgin coconut oil it produces. The factory provides valuable employment for the local community.

Holidays with Purpose

Peter and Jill Hofman are planning a visit to Nias for August and September with another four team members. The team includes a

carpenter to help with pool building (if the funds are available). He is also a TESOL teacher so will likely provide English lessons to local teachers. They will also have a dental nurse (maybe two) to help Jill with dental clinics, and a nurse will provide community health and first aid. The team will also spend time with the sponsored students and their families. Peter will also help with the operation and efficiency of the coconut factory and with the carpenter, hopefully provide training for several locals in the manufacture of mobility aids for the children with disabilities.

Fundraising

Peter and Jill held a Mad Hatters Tea Party on 26th April on the Sunshine Coast to raise funds for the aqua therapy pool. About 65 people had a great time with lots of mad hats. They raised about $900 (after expenses), which will go toward the costs of building the aqua therapy pool.

To date Batemans Bay High School markets have raised $1,023, Ernie and Carmel at Moruya Markets $240 and The Olive Tree $320 all from Batemans Bay on the South Coast NSW . They continue to sell coconut oil products to also raise funds for the aqua therapy pool. Please pop in and see them.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2013

Hi everyone! Welcome to the final newsletter for 2013. I do hope everyone had a very blessed Christmas and we pray that 2014 brings hope, love, faith and encouragement for all our members, directors, program managers, volunteers. contributors and organisations around the world.

SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS

We are pleased to report that all 20 students in the first stage of the school sponsorship program are now being sponsored thanks to Peter Bosker’s ongoing efforts in publicizing the program and the challenges many students face in obtaining an education. Peter’s work towards helping these disadvantaged students on behalf of LSM Ono Niha has provided an opportunity for these students to attend school and after-school support provided by the program.

The AU$1.00 a day scholarship pays for the required school books, uniforms, other fees and transport to and from school for the student. In some cases it will supplement the family income because the child can not earn income while at school. Any other support is directed to an after school program concentrating on teaching English and computer skills. Matt (Chairman of the Ono Niha Foundation) will be overseeing the program in Nias and Peter Bosker will be coordinating it from Australia. Six monthly reports of student performance will be provided to the sponsors, and procedures are in place to ensure full financial accountability.

If anyone is interested in making a difference by supporting disadvantaged students and their families on Nias Island supporting their eductation, please contact us via email and we will forward further details to you. We plan to expand the program once the first 20 students are established and the program is running smoothly – the need is great!

ONONIHA COCONUT OIL

Batemans Bay High School, The Olive Tree Cafe Batemans Bay, and Carmel and Ernie at Moruya markets continue to Sococco virgin coconut oil from the Ono Niha Oil factory. This provides employment for the 20-30 people working at the factory, income to over 200 farmers and 20% of its profits are donated to the Foundation to support its community development programs. All profits from the sale of the oil are given to the Foundation. Approximately AU$1,000 has been raised in the last three months, and will be ongoing.

THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY JAKARTA DIRECT AID PROGRAM (DAP)

We are excited to announce that the Direct Aid Program of the Australian Embassy Jakarta has approved our funding application to complete and fit out the multipurpose building that was started by a grant from the Sandra Reemer Foundation in the Netherlands. The DAP grant will also fund the education, re-integration (children with disabilities) and community health programs for about six months. These programs will be conducted in the completed multipurpose building and will make life a lot easier for the Foundation and its students and volunteers. Our deep appreciation goes to the Australian Embassy Jakarta (DAP).

JUNIOR ROTARY INTERACT CLUB

We are very pleased that the Interact Club (a junior Rotary of the Batemans Bay area, NSW Australia) have chosen LSM Ono Niha Foundation as their overseas support focus. We thank them so much for their willingness to make a difference to the needy and disadvantaged people on Nias Island, and we look forward to the developing partnership.

INTEGRATION PROGRAM

Aqua therapy classes for children with disabilities continue with the ongoing donations from four Australians and the support from the Disabled & Disadvantaged Childrens Association Inc. (DAD Inc.) Classes are being facilitated by a local trained Niasan named Iwan Dachi who is the Foundation’s Integration Manager. Currently classes are run on Tuesdays and Thursdays with junior and youth classes. Unfortunately classes cannot expand due to the cost of getting the children to the pool. We are looking forward to running more classes for children on the waiting list pending additional funding support.

An occupational therapist is helping our disabilities program by providing resources that will help local craftsmen make splints and mobility aids for children with disabilities.

Donations.

Australians can make tax deductable donations to Ono Niha Foundation and its programs. Go to our website https://www.ononihalsmfoundation.squarespace.com then to our contact page.

For those who are not Australian you can make payments directly to LSM Ono Niha. The details are on our contact page on our website. NB The swift code must be entered on your transfer form as this is part of Indonesian requirements so they can assure correct branch and account transaction.

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha Foundation.

May God bless each and every one of you

Patricia

Empowerment Group

Administration Officer and Director

LSM Ono Niha Foundation

JULY - OCTOBER 2013

Hi everyone! Welcome to our July - October newsletter. It was a very exciting four months full of faith, love, hope and encouragement. I have bee n back in Australia since July 8 and not on site. This is the reason for the delay as I collate photos and information from Matt, program and project managers and volunteers.

DENTAL CLINIC

The Foundation and the people of Nias were blessed yet again with the presence of dental therapist Jill Hofman and her husband Peter during July and August.

During this time free dental clinics provided professional dental care from Jill to local students at schools in Lagundri and Hiliamaeta as well as many surrounding communities 5 days a week for the 2 months.

Peter Hofman, Jill’s husband is the Foundation’s project manager and has assisted us to provide a structure that can offer tax deductibility to Australians.

Thank you Jill and Peter

DENTAL & HEALTH AND HYGEINE EDUCATION

Nadia Demolder from Ireland and a local Niasan Jony Wau gave dental health and basic hygiene training in local schools during August. During this training they gave to the students about 200 bars of coconut soap that Jill made, and about 400 toothbrushes.

DENTAL TRAINING

Local Niasans Irman Wau, Fiskal Wau, Sony Bali and Iwan Dachi were trained by Jill in dental practice. Iwan was also trained to scale, clean and polish teeth.

SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS

Peter and Annette Bosker from Australia also visited and volunteered for us in August for two weeks. Annette is Jill’s sister and assisted Jill with the dental clinics. Peter has kindly offered to coordinate our school scholarship program. Matt, Peter and Annette visited poor families and their children and identified 20 disadvantaged students whose families are in desperate need of support to help their child with education costs. They presented care packs to these needy families, which included Jill’s home-made coconut soap, 10 kg rice, eggs, noodles, toothbrushes, and basic first aid kit including betadene and bandaides.

The AU$1.00 a day scholarship contribution will provide much needed school books uniforms, other fees and transport to and from school for the student. In some cases it will supplement the family income because the child can not earn income while at school. Any other support will be directed to an after school program concentrating on teaching English and computer skills. Matt (Chairman of the Ono Niha Foundation) will be overseeing the program in Nias and Peter will be coordinating it from Australia. Six monthly reports of student performance will be recorded, and procedures are in place to ensure full accountability of expenditure.

Fifteen of these children already have sponsors thanks to Peter’s ongoing efforts in spreading awareness and the importance of children having the right to be educated. Thanks heaps Peter and Annette.

If anyone is interested in making a difference and supporting disadvantaged families on Nias Island by sponsoring a child’s education please do not hesitate to contact us via email and we will forward further details to you.

ONONIHA COCONUT OIL

Matt is presently processing soap and should be ready for distribution next month.

INTEGRATION PROGRAM

Aqua therapy classes for children with disabilities continue with the continued donations from four Australians and the support from the Disabled & Disadvantaged Childrens Association Inc. (DAD Inc.) Classes are being facilitated by a local trained Niasan named Iwan Dachi who is the Foundation’s Integration Manager. Currently classes are run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We have junior and youth classes. Unfortunately classes cannot expand due to the cost of getting the children to the pool. We are looking forward to running more classes for children on the waiting list pending additional funding support.

We were blessed to have the expertise of an Australian named Debra Gabriel during October. Debra is a special educator and she assisted Iwan with the aqua therapy classes and also taught English. Thanks Deb for your support and the help you provided to the chlidren.

Pastor Gary and his crew of 10 volunteers from Grace Ministries in California (USA) partnered with our Foundation in September to provide funding, building and labouring expertise to build a bathroom for one of our integration members who has polio and is paralysed from the arms down. The child named Kristin and her family had no easy access to water or hygienic bathroom facilities. Pastor Gary, his crew and our Foundation joined forces to build a basic bathreoom and provide reliable water for Kristin and her family. Thank you Jesus for bringing others to the Foundation to help provide basic amenities to these poor and disadvantaged families, and to bring faith, hope and dignity at the same time.

VOLUNTEERS

Thank you so much to Jill and Peter Hofman, Annette and Peter Bosker, Nadia Demolder, Debra Gabriel, Pastor Gary and team, and the various locals for your assistance and compassion during July to October.

The Foundation work would not be possible if not for the generous and inspirational support of many compassionate people. We would like to thank them and we look forward to more and more exciting supporters and volunteers helping in the future. Your continuous recognition towards our Foundation is sincerely appreciated.

MAY – JUNE 2013

Hi everyone! Welcome to our May – June newsletter. The foundations main focus the last two months has been our integration program for the physical & intellectually challenged, known to most as the disability program.

AQUA THERAPY

Aqua therapy continues and Iwan is now trained sufficiently to manage the program. In fact he has been given the title of Manager for the Integration program as a whole. Iwan’s wife Mimi had a baby boy June 11. They have named him King David after King David in the bible because Iwan is a recent converted Christian who now has the same religion as his wife Mimi. Iwan is also a descendent for the first king of Nias before Indonesia became a republic. King David was born with a turned left foot.....When Iwan noticed his son’s foot his words were “Oooh, my son follow me with aqua therapy program. This is message from God for me to not give up on cacat (disability) program.” Iwan has been working and training in this program from the start..

SPLINTING & ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT

We have been in communications via email with a retired occupational therapist who has sent us material, books and information which has enabled us to splint and make adaptable mobility equipment for people with physical challengers (disdabilities). So far Iwan and I have successfully made and splinted 4 children including King David and raised a sandal for a child who has one leg shorter than the other. There are still many more to be splinted and equipment to be made to enhance opportunities for self help and mobility skills. This equipment which is from books that the OT in Oz sent us will be made locally. All splints and adaptable equipment made will be the inventory for Ono Niha and returned and hopefully replaced as the child grows. Ono Niha are working towards an inventory of special needs equipment which can be reused.

Autism is also relevant here. One of the characteristics for some children with Autism is their over sensitivity to bite. Usually these children bite themselves, causing in many cases bruising, bleeding and stiches. Thank you so much to Clare Dunn who sent from Australia chewables which are made by ASPECT the Autistic Association. The twins immediately used them for purpose which should now eliminate the necessity to bite themselves, as these toys are specifically made and designed for these children. Thank you Clare.

EROSION

The news to hand with the erosion situation is that the government have advised police to visit the sites where the sand is being removed and advise them to stop. However, the police survey the sites in the morning and once they have left sand removal is continued. “While the cats away the mice will play.” At least there is now a sign of some sought of attempt to stop the erosion problem in Lagundri even if it is not effective at this stage.

DENTAL CLINICS

Jill a dental therapist and her husband Peter Hofman return to Indonesia for their yearly trip to LSM Ono Niha to again provide free dental Clinics. We advertised the free clinics on our bulletin board for the people to come and register for an appointment. The appointment book was full 5 days after advertising. We thank Jill and Peter for their continued, ongoing support........Peter will also be assisting Iwan and local carpenters to make adaptive self help and mobility equipment aids for the Cacat (disability) program. This year Jill has invited her sister Annette and her husband also named Peter to volunteer for Ono Niha Holiday with Purpose. As well as assisting Jill and Peter with the dental clinics they will be facilitating our scholarship program. Jill & Peter Hofman, and Annette & Peter Bosker will be staying in our Holiday with Purpose bungalows.

VOLUNTEERS

From July to September we have 6 volunteers joining our Holiday with Purpose program volunteering their professionalism to help in our community health program, education program and the cacat (disability) program.

The foundation would not be possible if not for the generous and inspirational support of many compassionate people. We would like to thank them and we look forward to more and more exciting supporters and volunteers helping in the future. Your continuous recognition towards our foundation is sincerely appreciated.

Donations.

Australians can make tax deductable donations to Ono Niha Foundation and its programs, you can go to our website https://www.ononihalsmfoundation.squarespace.com click on Links – click the link World Relief and it will take you directly to the available payment methods to donate to Ono Niha Foundation. Alternatively you can directly go to https://www.wra.org.au/1220empowerment.

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha Foundation.

May God bless each and every one of you

Patricia

In country Supervisor,

Empowerment Group

Administration Officer & a Director

LSM Ono Niha Foundation

MARCH - APRIL 2013

Wow! How time flys. I can’t believe 2 months has already passed since the last newsletter. I pray that all has been well with you all.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL BUILDING

The shell of our multifunctional building is complete thanks to the Sandra Reemer Foundation in the Netherlands. We currently wait for another source of funding that we have applied for so as to fit out the building. In the meantime we are currently preparing for our programs associated with this building.

· Education Fidilus Sarumba; a local Niasan has been an English student of LSM Ononiha Foundation for the past 14 months. Fidilis is studying to be an English teacher and has been joining me on my travels to West Nias to team teach English to a youth group and an orphanage for children who are malnutrition. I am using this opportunity to train him for a possible consideration to teach English in our multifunctional building.
· Integration At the moment our aqua therapy program is kept very busy with the children who have varied physical challengers (DISABILITIES) here in South Nias. Currently we are training Iwan Dachi; a local to assist with this program, which I mentioned in the last newsletter. By the time the multifunctional building is fitted out with fold up beds to accommodate overnight stays for the children travelling great distances whom are eager to attend our aqua therapy program, Iwan will be trained and experienced enough to facilitate the extra classes needed to provide this program to these children and who are currently on the waiting list.
· Community health A floor, windows and doors is all that is needed for the multifunctional building to provide a facility again for our yearly free dental clinic which is scheduled to be near July 15 this year and will operate 5 mornings a week for 6 – 7 weeks. We pray the multifunctional building will accommodate. If not, the veranda of our holiday with purpose bungalow will suffice as it did last year. God’s Will will be done, if it is His Will.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

It is so enlightening to see members of the local communities wanting to volunteer, assist or help Ono Niha with its programs.

As mentioned above, Fidilus travels a 4 hour return bike trip and stays overnight to assist Ono Niha with their English and integration program once a month.

Local abled youth joins Aqua therapy classes, closing the gap between isolation and inclusion.

Most families of the children in our aqua therapy program are the poorest of the poorest and have no transportation or are unable to bring their children to our aqua therapy classes because their child is limited to their physical challenge to travel by motorbike (scooter) which is the majority means of transportation here on Nias Island. A local business man allows us to use his car to transport such children; we just have to pay for the petrol.

A Niasan man named Billy who was hit by a train 4 years ago in Medan lost an arm, leg, a piece of an ear and 3 fingers. For the last 4 years Billy has been overwhelmed with depression and a lack of self worth. He hid himself away from society, being ashamed of his appearance and ability. Word spread to his village about Ono Niha’s program for the disabled, Indonesian word cacat. A family member transported him to visit us. We asked Billy if he could help us every Tuesday with our 2 – 3 year olds. He accepted with a large smile. His cousin who brought him to us said he hadn’t seen Billy smile in 4 years. Since his accident no one had asked for his help. Everyone assumed that he was the one that needed help and pity. Billy comes to Iwan’s on Monday nights and shares a meal with Iwan and his wife. He sleeps there so he can rise early in the morning to help Iwan clean the pool in preparation for the Tuesday morning aqua therapy class. His helping us and were helping him build up his self esteem, self worth and an opportunity to socialise in society again.

Self worth is an important key factor for a person to feel the need of being. Although Billy cannot do things the same way as he once could; he can do, just differently and just maybe, he will learn to do things he has never done before. May God bless him.

As you will note above and in my previous newsletters I have difficulty placing the label “disability” on a person. Hence I use words like challenged, different abilities or the Indonesian word cacat. I only use the word disability because that is the commonly known word.

Who draws the line for a disability I ask? Do I have a disability because I wear glasses? I like to think that everyone has different ABILITIES and challengers rather than a disability. A strategy for positive thinking builds a proposal for determination to succeed to the best of one’s ABILITY.

DON'T DIS ONE'S ABILITY

EROSION

From reading our last newsletter you are all well aware of the terrible erosion problem in Lagundri Bay. Early March, LSM Ono Niha foundation directors met with government officials to bring attention to the rapid results from 10+ ton of sand being removed from the beach on a daily basis with a visual presentation displaying photos within a time frame of twelve months. Unfortunately, to date the sand continues to be taken and the erosion worsens. The old saying is “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEAS AND OR SUGGESTIONS FOR STOPPING THIS

Donations

As mentioned in our last newsletter we now partner with World Relief Australia so Australians can now make donations to Ono Niha Foundation and claim on tax.

To make tax deductable donations to Ono Niha Foundation and its programs, you can go to our website https://www.ononihalsmfoundation.squarespace.com click on Links – click the link World Relief and it will take you directly to the available payment methods to donate to Ono Niha Foundation. Alternatively you can directly go to https://www.wra.org.au/1220empowerment. If you are donating to our foundation through World Relief and you would like to do so before the end of this financial year, please note that the money has to be received into World Relief’s bank before June 30 being a Sunday.

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha Foundation.

May God bless each and every one of you

Patricia

In country Supervisor,

Empowerment Group

Administration Officer & a Director

LSM Ono Niha Foundation

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

Hello to all! Sorry for the delay with this newsletter. My computer contracted a nasty virus and I was forced to travel to town and do this at the internet cafe, taking unbelievable time.

Our foundation has been officially registered as a NGO now for 12 months. We pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ remains with us for guidance so we can continue to reach out to the disadvantaged & needy people on Nias Island. Our readers who have been following our newsletters from the past 12 months, will know that there are many poor and needy people here on Nias Island. Our priority is to reach out to the most disadvantaged of the disadvantaged amongst the poorest of the poor within local villages who are in great need in this third world country Indonesia, and in particular Nias Island.

Multifunctional Building

Our multifunctional building is making steady progress. We have had a few minor delays with funding arriving in time to coincide with the buildings progress and the waiting for the materials to be made and transported to us. We are graciously thankful to the Sandra Reemer Foundation in the Netherlands and World Relief Australia for making this project possible. As the funds arrive we wait for its completion. The first programs in this building will be for:-

Education in English & computer to enhance life time opportunities amongst the poor and needy.

Integration for the disadvantaged physical & intellectually challenged children (DISABLED). Providing overnight stays for these children & some carers that have to travel great distances to attend our already active aqua therapy program.

Community health conducting free clinics for medical and dental from professional volunteers who have already provided months of their professional time for our foundation to over 400 people in need of dental & medical care, and who plan to return & continue with us this year.

Training will also be provided for the programs mentioned above to educate people in dentistry, dental care, basic first aid skills including CPR, English & computer teachers for local schools and aqua therapy instructors for the integration program.

Integration for the less abled (DISABLED)

The aqua therapy program has proven very successful and popular here in Sth Nias as the word spreads about bringing these children out of isolation and integrating them into society. We currently have 2 classes a day; mornings & afternoons, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for the children in Sth Nias, and the first Monday of each month for the children who travel from Nth & West Nias. We have a waiting list with children from Sth Nias because of transportation issues. The foundation waits for the fitting out of our multifunctional building so to cut the costs that we are currently paying in accommodation for the children from Nth Nias. The foundation has enough finances to cover the Nth Nias children’s classes for 3 more months. We pray our multifunctional building will be fitted out by then so they can stay with us. Our largest area of need at the moment is with the children from various villages here in Sth Nias who mostly are very poor and have no transport. A local person has offered his car for one day a week if the foundation can provide the petrol. However; because we have the car for only one day we have to juggle children’s timeslots and localities, taking in to consideration ages and varied challenged abilities (DISABILITY) assuring transport & classes are safe with a full risk assessment, and are applicable for each groups particular need so there is presently a waiting list until we come up with another solution for transport and its costs. Iwan Dachi a local Niasan assists me greatly with this program. He volunteers his time everyday to work with me in the classes, he is transporting what children he can and who are physically and risk assessed able to travel with him on a motorbike to and from the classes, he cleans and maintains the swimming pool and attends all the meetings I have for the program as a translator.

Iwan and his wife Mimi who is due to have a baby in 3 months currently resides in a small grass hut at the swimming pool site. Iwan is the security for the person who owns the swimming pool. He doesn’t receive a wage because he is provided with the hut, a place to live for free. Iwan is a blessing to the program and it would not be successful without his dedication & caring heart to help these children and their families.

Iwan and I have had many meetings with many leaders & families from many villages here in South Nias in regards to children with challengers (DISABILITIES) and their families who care for them. I have looked into the eyes of many and see the suffering of Jesus who was thirsting on the cross. Although there are many, I have attached a story of one child for your viewing to give you an indication of the desperate need for our help & support.

Destina Fau

is a 12 year old girl who lives in a village named Orahili, and is cared for by her 78 & 63 year old granparents because her mother and father left her and Nias when she was born. Her grandparents and her live in a very small hut. Their kitchen, bath area & toilet are outside their hut. They have no income because they are too old to work. Her grandfather repaired bicycles in the past but now the need for bicycles are being replaced by motorcycles and the need to repair bicycles are no longer in demand for the village people. The grandparents rely on their son who lives 26 kilometres away to bring them food when he can. Most days they just eat rice. The grandfather walks approximately 500 metres a day to the local village’s water supply. This doesn’t seem far to most but this man is 72 and walks with heavy buckets of water every day. The grandfather has a large bucket under a section of their roof to get what water they can when it rains. Destina cannot talk and or communicate her needs. She walks, not upright but on her feet and hands simutaniously. She has severe spasisity to her hands and feet and has epiletic seizures 3 to 6 times a day which last between 15 – 20 minutes each seizure. Destina is on the waiting list for our aqua therapy program as trasport to & from her village is amongst the issues previously mentioned above.

Every Human being has a right to live humanly, no matter what their differences are.

We hope to resolve transport issues soon for as many as we can that are on our waiting list, to enable Destina and others to join our aqua therapy program and bring these chidren out of isolation & into society to socialise with other children. We also hope Destina'sgrandmother can join us and the other parents who come, so she too can socialise with families who are understanding towards each others strains that life can give to those who are not only poor and in need like most people on Nias Island, but have an extra disadvantage because they are struggling to care & provide for their child with a physical or intellectual challenge (disability). In most cases these children will need to be cared and attended to for their child’s entire life. Alternatively the childrens carers can choose to have a little respite to themselves. These families are often isolated from their village & surrounding communities because they are unable to support their child’s needs outside of the safety environment of their home. The Aqua therapy program which is situated currently in a well visited socialising location for locals and tourists hopes to bring awareness, understanding and compassion amongst individuals and surrounding communities and wider world, towards families and their children who have physical & intellectual challengers, that these people are human and yes different. However; God makes each and everyone of us different with different abilities but everyone needs to be loved and have a self worth. To have humanly rights and a choice to improve their capabilities and life opportunities for one to have a meaning of being.

The aqua therapy program gets recognition everyday from locals and their commnities. And I can already feel the hearts of many who stop to observe. Many little raindrops can make a river even a river that has a waterfall with a rainbow.

Environmental Program

From reading our last newsletter most of you are aware of the Erosion problem here in Lagundri. Officially as of January 11, 2013 Lagundri and all surrounding villages are now their own council and no longer part of Selatan Teluk Dalam. The area of Lagundri includes us; being Hiliamaeta, many surrounding villages that participate in our programs, and Lagundri beach which has the devastating problem with erosion because of locals removing the sand by the ton upon tons daily from the beach which is part of the bay and includes Sorake beach, one of the top 3 surfing locations and tourist attractions of the world.

Matt and I had a meeting with the head of the new Lagundri government on March 4. We put forward a 10 minute power point presentation addressing the crisis situation on erosion at Lagundri beach. The meeting seemed to present well and it was accepted that there was a concern indeed that needed to be addressed. The head of the government in Lagundri informed us that he would hold a meeting with other government officials and the chiefs of the surrounding villages within the Lagundri shire for this problem to be addressed and resolved. The meeting was to take place March 10. We are currently waiting for the results of that meeting and we will keep everyone informed of the situation.

Self sustainability for the foundation provided by Ono Niha Coconut Factory

The coconut oil production recommenced in February but is yet again on hold in March as Matt waits patiently for confirmation of further supply. The labels have arrived for the individual bottling of Sumatra oil, produced and supplied by Ono Niha Oil. Ono Niha Oil now has the opportunity to increase their market production and sell certified pure virgin coconut oil products to locals and interested clientele throughout Indonesia and the world. The waste product from the coconut shell continues to be processed into charcoal for a client who utilises the charcoal to make brickettes, a fuel for lighting BBQ’s and fired stoves.

For those who don’t know, Matt started Ono Niha Coconut Factory with his own money and donates 20% of the factories profits to LSM Ono Niha Foundation. Matt who is also the chairperson and co founder of the foundation provides employment to 30 locals, an income to over 200 local coconut farmers and is humbly enhancing the prospects of Industry & the economy for Indonesia. Matt focuses on bettering life opportunities for the needy and poor people in his local village Hiliamaeta and surrounding villages here on Nias Island. LSM Ono Niha Foundation thanks him for providing a vision of hope. With the support from Matt and his Coconut factory, Ono Niha Factory assists LSM Ono Niha Foundation, work towards self sustainability for its programs. His willingness to care and give to those less fortunate than himself shows the love of Jesus working through him.

Donations

As mentioned in our last newsletter we now partner with World Relief Australia so Australians can now make donations to Ono Niha Foundation and claim on tax.

To make tax deductable donations to Ono Niha Foundation and its programs, you can go to our website https://www.ononihalsmfoundation.squarespace.com click on Links – click the link World Relief and it will take you directly to the available payment methods to donate to Ono Niha Foundation. Alternatively you can directly go to https://www.wra.org.au/1220empowerment. For those who are not Australian you can make payments directly to LSM Ono Niha. The details are on our contact page on our website. NB The swift code must be entered on your transfer form as part of Indonesian requirements so they can assure correct branch and account transaction.

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha Foundation.

May God bless each and every one of you

Patricia

In country Supervisor,

Empowerment Group

Administration Officer & a Director

LSM Ono Niha Foundation

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

Hello to all and we hope that you had a festive season full of love and peace and we pray with the world for this love and peace to provide hope for the many people of the world who are needy and disadvantaged! May the peace and love of Christ shine through you and all for this New Year and many more years as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord himself has looked down upon us this November and December with many graces and with the work of the Holy Spirit we have achieved much and been able to provide hope and encouragement for many needy and disadvantage people living here on Nias Island.

Multifunctional Building

With the wonderful assistance from the Sandra Reemer Foundation in the Netherlands we have commenced construction on our multipurpose building. This building will enable us to enhance life opportunities for the people on Nias Island by providing Education in Indonesian Adult literacy, English, computer, environmental awareness, community health with free medical clinics, including dentistry and education in basic first aid, nutrition & cooking classes, horticulture & agriculture as well as a community meeting area and place for the local and surrounding communities, also including overnight stay for the children and their carers travelling great distances to attend the aqua therapy classes for physical & intellectual challenges (disabilities) plus many more. It is all so very exciting. We are now patiently waiting on our second instalment so as construction can continue. …..Thank you thank you again Sandra Reemer Foundation.

Aqua Therapy Program & the re integration of children with Physical & intellectual challengers (DISABILITIES)

Nerida Bourke a teacher at Broulee Primary School in Broulee South East NSW, Australia has made it possible to bring hope to our program Aqua Therapy. Nerida has provided the funds to acquire an electric pump, and piping/hose to pump sea water in and out of the swimming pool that a local has kindly provided for us to run our aqua therapy program. She has also kindly offered a regular contribution through World Relif so the program can start and continue. Thank you Nerida.

We would also like to thank PIPs Salon of Legian Bali, Marie Smith and Debra Gabriel staff of Batemans High school South coast NSW Australia, their families and the people who worked at, and or supported Marie & Deb's sausage sizzle they organised. The funds they raised together with PIP's made it possible for LSM Ono Niha Foundation to offer children from various villages in South, North and West Nias an Aqua therapy program, and provide for their expenses to travel to and from this important program. The children with physical, social and intellectual challengers can now receive aqua therapy and have the opportunity to re integrate into society. Thank you all and thank you also for considering continuing to support LSM Ono Niha Foundation and its other programs to make a difference to the lives of the needy and disadvantaged people of Nias Island.

Our Aqua therapy program was planned to start on January 7. However, being the wet season here and being a very wet 3 weeks, has delayed the start. God willing the wet season will soon end so as we can commence this program.

Environmental Program

Teluk Dalam which is the southern province of Nias Island and is where LSM Ono Niha Foundation is situated has started a program on pollution. This program is mainly concentrating on the town of Teluk Dalam at the moment and to the credit of the South Nias Government, this program could have a spiral affect. I have had various meetings with different government agencies here in Teluk Dalam and the Chief of Hiliamaeta and finally we have managed to have the wider communities of Teluk Dalam considered. A small step but a step indeed. LSM Ono Niha Foundation now has garbage bins out the front of our foundation with a daily collection. We hope to be an example for the wider communities of Teluk Dalam to take the initiative to speak with the Chief as we done so as to arrange a community garbage collection.

Pollution was the first part of our environmental program. However, it has been drawn to our attention that there is an area of the environmental program that is in far more desperate need. EROSION. Lagundri which is situated in the Teluk Dalam region of Nias and is considered to be one of the top 3 surfing spots of the world and visited by many tourists is suffering from the cause of erosion. Daily; truck loads and tons of sand are being removed from Lagundri Bay. Every wet season the effects of this is being seen but is not understood amongst the people that it is caused by the removal of the sand. Unfortunately, because many people here have not had the opportunity to be educated with environmental issues such as erosion they are unaware of the causes and effects. LSM Management are awaiting on Matt our chairperson/director and a well respected local member of the community to return to Nias so we can meet with government officials to bring this to their attention.

Coconut Factory & Christmas on Nias Island

Due to unforseen Christmas delays on our part; the depositing of money from suppliers did not reach us, so unfortunately we were unable to operate the factory in November and December. However, this did not stop the people’s true celebration of Christmas. On Nias Island there is no Santa Clause. Most children don’t even know who Santa Clause is or what he is about. For the people on Nias Island Christmas is a time of prayer, praise and worship of the Lord Jesus with many visits to their Church. The Muslim people here on the Island take the Christian beliefs and values with respect. As this was my first year in the years I have been in Indonesia on Nias Island at Christmas time, I was very humbled and touched by the true meaning of Christmas. Their dedication to Christ and His salvation is truly eye opening and even though these people are of a third world and are considered primitive and under educated we of the so called modern world who call ourselves Christians could learn something from them as far as the true meaning of Christmas goes.

WORLD RELIEF

Contracts have been signed between the management group of LSM Ono Niha empowerment “Ono Niha” and approved by World Relief Australia and the Australian Tax department. Please go to our home page and our link “World Relief Australia” to make direct online tax deductable donations to help us make a difference to the many needy and disadvantaged people living here on Nias Island or go directly to https://www.wra.org.au/1220empowerment. Thank you World Relief Australia for your support.

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha Foundation. Until our next newsletter may the peace and love of Jesus Christ be with you all, now and always

May God Bless each and every one of you

Patricia

In country Supervisor,

Empowerment Group “Ono Niha”

Administration Officer & a Director

LSM Ono Niha Foundation

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012

Hello to all!

September and October have been very busy for a time of hope and encouragement for the many needy and disadvantage people living here on Nias Island

Ono Niha Foundation has succeeded with bringing forth programs that have proven to be successful through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus.

Community Health

As you all know from our previous newsletter we ran free dental clinics with professional practice from volunteers; Australians Jill Hofman a dental therapist and her husband Peter, later joined by Janice Gaddes and Tiana Di Senna Fernandes, also volunteers from Australia bringing with them more dental supplies.

The clinic provided dental care and dental education to 238 children and 113 adults a total of 351. Many were seen more than once requiring 1, 2 and even 3 revisits after their initial consultation.

As a result many are walking around the villages with large smiles on their faces proudly showing their healthy clean teeth.

Upon my visit to a local school on October 28, I was pleasantly surprised that the teachers were continuing dental education that they had been trained in, to the children. There was a locker kept for personalised cups holding toothbrushes which Jill & Peter had given as gifts to the people they treated. I watched first hand, the teacher squeeze toothpaste onto each child’s toothbrush after they had eaten, and the children clean their teeth properly as shown in the dental education classes. I also visited another school which Jill had not been able to see, who were also implementing a dental care program. It was so exciting to see that dental education was spreading. Thank you again Jill for your time to share your Jesus like heart in providing much needed professional dental care and education to the many people in need. Thank you also Peter for assuring that Jills dental machinery was always operating and to Janice & Tiana for your dental assistance and the delivery of the much needed extra dental supplies.

Jill & Peter are returning to Ono Niha Nias for the next 6 years for approximately 2 months each visit. So this program will continue to grow and expand. This program has proven that it is a successful program. Teachers who were trained in the education side are implementing their new skills into their daily lesson plans.

Environmental Program

I was talking in a conversation with some locals when a gentleman began talking about the environmental program that we gave to the school that his son attended. He continued to say to me that he threw some rubbish on the ground and his son quickly scolded him and told him “Don’t do that papa, we are not dirty people, you need to put garbage in the rubbish bins and if there isn’t one we have to take it home and put it in our rubbish bin” Obviously he spoke this in Niasan to his father but his father was relaying it to me in English. The child’s father continued to say that he had learnt in his class from Miss Patricia and the tourist children that visited them. The child also said he saw pictures of Australia and there was no rubbish on their beaches it was very beautiful and that their beaches would look so much better than Australia if they were clean. WOW! These words were coming from the mouth of a 5 year old. I know this is a small step but the children who we are targeting in our environmental program are the future generation for Nias.

Another child who attended one of these classes father, managers a Losman (guest house) at the beach break in Lagundri, where there is a large amount of rubbish on the beach. I was very thrilled to see yesterday that there is now a garbage bin out the front of his Losman. One bin is probably not enough but small steps are. “Many raindrops can make a large river” was quoted by Sue Elscott an ecologist who came to Nias with her two children Sam & Jessi to volunteer their time to educate environmental awareness at 2 local schools in September. Thank you Sue, Sam & Jessi.

Chiropractory Clinics

We thank Matt Blackers and Nick King for providing free Chiropractory clinics on their quick visit to Nias. Matt has been here before with his wife Madeline who is a registered nurse. Both provided medical assistance in first aid and chriopractory for Ono Niha foundation. This time Matt bought Nic with him who is also a chriopractioner. Although they were only here for a short time they managed to treat and advice 21 local village people. Thank you so much Matt and Nic…..See you both next time you visit Nias on a surfing trip.

Holidays with Purpose

We have had Rhianna Dunn from Australia, holiday with purpose in our bungalow and has been helping with a varied amount of programs. She has assisted with the English programs in two villages in South Nias and one in West Nias. She has also assisted with the music therapy program in North Nias for children with physical and intellectual challengers as well as for children from very poor families whom their parents are unable to provide for them because of financial difficulty. This orphanage that we visit takes these children in to care for them until the families are in a better economic state to financially support them. Rhianna also volunteered her time in the coconut factory, learning the practices of making virgin pure coconut oil. We hope you had a wonderful holiday Rhianna and enjoyed the time you had in giving and making a difference. Thanks Rhianna. Hope to see you again.

our foundation is sincerely appreciated.

Coconut Factory Matt has received an interest from China to export brickettes for barbeque cooking. Matt has employed extra staff for this production. However, we still await confirmation. Unfortunately the coconut oil is again at a standstill while waiting for the next order. We continue to pray that soon in the very near future Matt who is the chairperson and a director for our foundation is able to keep the factory in production full time. Matt kindly donates 20% of the coconut factories profits to Ono Niha Foundation.

Multifunctional Building

Our first instalment contribution from the Sandra Reemer Foundation in the Netherlands has been received and we commenced construction the next day. We are also excited and the village people who pass by now can see that the project that we have been patiently trying to get underway is no longer a dream and many people are asking for application forms for the many programs that will be offered. Thank you so very much Deborah and the team at the Sandra Reemer Foundation. You are helping us to bring hope and encouragement to the many needy and disadvantaged in Nias. We aim to enhance life opportunities for the people on Nias Island by providing Education in Indonesian Adult literacy, English, computer, environmental awareness, community health with free medical clinics, including dentistry and education in basic first aid, nutrition & cooking classes, horticulture & agriculture as well as a community meeting area and place for the local and surrounding communities, also including overnight stay for the children and their carers travelling great distances to attend the aqua therapy classes for physical & intellectual challenges (disabilities) plus many more. It is all so very exciting…..Thank you thank you again Sandra Reemer Foundation.

Village children and volunteer overwhelmed with excitement with the start of the multifunctional building.

WORLD RELIEF

Ono Niha Foundation application process to partner with World Relief Australia is drawing to its final stages. Once the successful application has been approved, we will be a taxability foundation for Australians. Thank you World Relief Australia for your support.

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha Foundation. Until our next newsletter may the peace and love of Jesus Christ be with you all, now and always

God Bless each and every one of you

Patricia

Administration Officer & a Director

For

LSM Ono Niha Foundation

JULY/AUGUST 2012

I apologise for the delay in submitting our Newsletter. We have been patiently waiting for the Sandra Reemer Foundation’s generous donation of 5,000 euro to commence the first stage of our multi pronged building project in hope that we would be able to provide pictures of this wonderful project. The Sandra Reemer Foundation deposited their donation, accidently forgetting to provide the Indonesian Swift code for our bank. To date we are praying for the Sandra Reemer Foundation’s hasty recovery of the funds and to have them safely returned to their account. We stress those future contributors who transfer money to Ono Niha Foundation to specify the swift code. We understand that on many overseas transfer application forms there is not a section for a swift code. However, Indonesian require this to be noted on the international bank transfer form. We suggest that it be documented in the “Bank Name” section if there is no provision for the swift code. Example being:- Bank name….. BNI swift code BNINIDJA. We ask that you help us pray for the safe hasty recovery of the funds to the Sandra Reemer Foundation.

SELF SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS

Coconut Factory

We are happy to announce that production has recommenced after a 6 week drop in demand for the coconut oil. Employees for Ono Niha Coconut factory are once again employed and Ono Niha is, again buying coconuts from approximately 200 needy families from surrounding villages and communities. The majority of these families only income is from our factory. We graciously appreciate the continuous support from Lush Cosmetics and FTL Trading. However, at this stage current orders are not sufficient to keep the coconut factory in operation on a permanent basis. This program helps so many poor and under nourished families with an income that enables them to buy food. Marketing ideas from our members and contributors are welcomed, so we can increase our production so as to continue an ongoing income for so many poor and needy Niasans.

In the meantime we have begun to use the waste product of the coconut. We had investors from Malaysia come and visit the factory this month and are keen to import coconut brickettes from Ono Niha. The brickettes are made from the shell of the coconut which is a source of fuel for fires to cook. The Investors from Malaysia are providing Matt; the director for Ono Niha Foundation and Coconut Factory, training in Medan. Production has commenced and will provide additional employment opportunities and a more continuous income source for the village people and communities In addition to Ono Niha buying coconut shells from the local families they now can utilize the shell waste from the factory to make the brickettes. Exporting brickettes enables Ono Niha Foundation to continue assisting the needy and disadvantaged people of Nias.

We are also currently producing massage oils, insect repellents and body oils from our coconut oil and essential oils. This is in the early stages at the moment and we are waiting for the labels. Tourists who come to visit the foundation and coconut factory have been eager to support our Foundation by purchasing our oil products.

Holiday with purpose

We have completed another bungalow with the assistance and donation from two Australians, Peter and Jill Hofman. Jill and Peter are presently holidaying with purpose for Ono Niha Foundation. Jill is a dentist therapist and Dr. Peter has a higher degree in Agricultural Science. We are blessed with their expertise. They are with us for approximately 3 months and decided that they would invest the money they had budgeted for accommodation towards a bungalow for our holiday with purpose program. They had planned ahead so the bungalow was able to be completed by the time they arrived in Nias. Hence, they now can enjoy self containable accommodation in the bungalow that they helped to provide for Ono Niha Foundation. Thank you Peter & Jill!

ENGLISH & COMPUTER PROGRAMS

Patricia continues to teach English to surrounding community schools. However, it has become impractical to continue teaching in her small bungalow because the facilities are not accommodating enough to efficiently teach at. So this part of the English program waits for the multi pronged building project to be completed. We are asking for your prayers with this. Although Patricia’s small bungalow is not able to hold small groups of computer classes she continues to teach individuals and also waits for the multi pronged building project to be completed before larger classes can be established. Both programs are prioritised for the needy and disadvantaged with low or no incomes.

HOPE & ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL & INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED (Disabilities) Patricia continues to visit the capital of Nias, Gunung Sitoli, North Nias to provide music therapy and assist with strategies for difficult challengers carers face with these children. The aqua therapy program also waits for the multi pronged building to be completed as the program needs the children and their carers to stay overnight because of the distance being too far to travel in one day for children.

NUTRITION & COOKING CLASSES

Although this program also waits for the multi pronged building to be completed we have commenced preparing the experimental garden and compost which aims to assist with education in nutrition and the advantages of growing and eating fresh vegetables and fruit. Peter Hofman our volunteer is assisting in this area with his expertise. Thank you Peter

CLINICS

Last month, this month and next month is a very busy clinic time for Ono Niha Foundation.

Dental Clinics

Free dental education, clinics & training have been running since July 23 and will continue until September 26 thanks to the expertise of volunteer dental therapist Jill Hofman and technical assistance and dental assistance from her husband Peter and Patricia’s already gained respect and trust with the villagers and community members to arrange appointments and assist with communication needs and translation in Indonesian and some Niasan. The dental clinic has treated and made further appointments for 308 children and 73 adults so far. The love of Jesus is definitely with this program. Jill is also training locals in basic dentistry skills with a wage. Thank you so very much Jill and Peter, (thermah khasi bunyak) Janice Gaddes and Tiana Di Senna Fernandes from Australia arrive September 9 with more dental supplies and will also be assisting with the dental clinics.

Mid August, Matt Blakers a trained Chiropractor revisits to continue chiropractic clinics.

August 8, Sue Elscot from Australia returns to continue conducting education in environmental awareness, about pollution and the dangerous toxins that are created from burning plastic. .

ONO NIHA SUPPORTING THE YOUTH TO CHOOSE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Congratulations to Green FC Senior Soccer team sponsored by LSM Ono Niha Foundation for successfully reaching the quarter finals in the Demokrat Cup.

WORLD RELIEF

Ono Niha Foundation is currently in the application process of partnering with World Relief Australia. If we are successful with our application we will be taxability. We ask for your prayers with this application

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha Foundation. Until our next newsletter may the peace and love of Jesus Christ be with you all, now and always

God Bless each and every one of you

MARCH/APRIL 2012

We have moved our self sustainable program, the Coconut Factory to our foundation site. The premises new facility is larger and worker friendly with safe and hygienic practice. The program provides a secure income to the local villagers, a second source of coconut oil to cover production shortages from Sumatra Oil, and to provide financial support to current and future educational and training programs. Ono Niha Foundation aims to reduce dependence on donations in the future, and to be a self sustainable foundation that will provide life opportunities for Niasans.

The foundation has a new truck which was donated by Patricia Breedon, an Australian volunteer and a founder with Matius Wau of LSM Ono Niha Foundation. The truck is a far cry from the vehicle that was used last year to collect coconuts for the Coconut Factory. The truck can be modified so as to transport needy Niasans from surrounding villages and wider communities. An aqua therapy program is one of the foundation’s future programs. The modified truck will transport children and their carers from an orphanage to a local swimming pool. The children of the orphanage have many needs, the majority being physical and intellectual challengers, such as Autism, Cerbral Palsy and Downs Syndrome.

NOW

The foundation runs successful free clinics. During March and April, Matt & Madeleine Blakers from Australia volunteered their professional expertise in Chiropractic and nursing. LSM Ono Niha are very grateful and thankful for the advice and treatment that was provided by Matt and Madeleine to the many Niasans who, because of financial hardship would normally not be able to receive such medical attention. Thank you Matt and Madeleine

The foundations biggest and most needed project at the moment is the “Multipurpose building”. LSM Ono Niha needs a multipurpose building to run its administration and programs. At present Patricia is conducting English and computer classes from her small bungalow verandah and the clinics are being run at the Coconut Factory. The other programs such as the health, nutrition, cooking and hygiene classes, as well as the education programs in adult, construction and environment can’t be run without the multipurpose building. The Sandra Reemer Foundation who is a Dutch based foundation, supports many projects for organisations around the world who are attempting to make a difference to the lives of people in countries who are less fortunate than those in already developed countries. SRF have offered to fundraise for our multipurpose building project, with the aim to raise 5,000 euro. Thank you very much Sandra Reemer Foundation for your support. We await your generous financial assistance. Although this generous offer will not complete our building, it is a warmly accepted contribution. We continue to pray for the gracious blessings our Lord continuously provides us with.

Another project that is underway is the building of a volunteers bungalow. The bungalow will be accommodation for the volunteers that come to holiday with purpose for LSM Ono Niha Foundation. This project has become possible because of Peter & Jill Hofman from Australia. They are volunteers that are coming to LSM Ono Niha this year to run a dentistry clinic. Thank you so very much Peter and Jill. We patiently await your arrival.

Well I think that’s about it for now with the news update on LSM Ono Niha. Until our next newsletter may the peace and love of Jesus Christ be with you all, now and always

God Bless each and every one of you.