Sumatra EcoVentures
Project #1
Erna’s EcoFarm and Community Garden is located not far from the village of Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra. Erna owns and manages a small Eco-farm which produces organic fruit and vegetables. The community garden educates the local community about organic farming and composting. Anyone who helps gets given free fruit or vegetables.
Erna regularly has children from the local school and students visit the farm and garden to help and learn about ecological farming. She also works closely with a community of local ladies to educate them about composting and has plans to open a compost house that the local community can use. Erna has opened a small building on the farm to house volunteers and students.
Project #2
The Bukit Lawang education centre is a non-profit organisation, located in the small village of Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra. The centre provides free Kindagarten classes every morning and afternoon English classes to local children from many villages. The afternoon classes main focus is teaching English and learning about environmental conservation.
The centre is open to the community and has a library. It hopes to empower the local community to conserve their environment.
We believe that education is vital and through children positive changes can be made for a better future.
Bukit Lawang Trust also wishes to empower and enable the local community to protect and look after the Gunung Leuseur National Park. We hope through education the locals will find alternative sources of income to palm oil and work together to protect the Gunung Leuser National Park.
Project #3
Green Class provides a free class to local children every Thursday. On Sundays, they have an activity to clean up the local irrigation canal. The class is located in Gotong Royong, the adjacent village to Bukit Lawang. The children come from the local village and ages range from 6 to 13 years.
The class is taught in a large wooden gazebo type structure, with no chairs just a white board. All teachers are local volunteers who teach the children about environmental issues, recycling, animals, the local environment and English classes.
Any supplies would be greatly appreciated by the children which would be used for school or for this class.
Initiatives Supported
Listed on this page are the specific needs requested by the community project(s) so you can choose exactly what to pack for a purpose and express your gratitude to the local community with the supplies you take them. If you prefer, you may reach out directly to them to inquire about items which may be available for purchase locally. Arranging visits to community projects is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to visit a project, contact the participant and they can let you know what is possible.
Candy and balloons are not on the needs list as they are harmful for the children and the environment for the following reasons:
• Few of the children benefiting from these projects have access to toothpaste, toothbrushes, or a dentist. The candy promotes cavities.
• The balloons once they become deflated are a choking hazard for local wildlife.
Instead of taking candy or balloons, use that space for additional requested supplies, as they are priceless.
