Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Stanford students fund-raise for Indonesia disaster
By Denise Sohn
The Stanford Daily (Stanford)
05/30/2006

(U-WIRE) STANFORD, Calif. — "Skip a Starbucks, Save an Orphan." With this as their slogan, the Indonesian Club at Stanford and the Muslim Students Awareness Network have teamed up to raise money to support the GiveLight Foundation, which, according to its Web site, is a "world recognized crisis relief organization that seeks to create durable orphanages in response to natural disasters."

Organizers said the Foundation originated as a response to the tsunamis that struck Southeast Asia Dec. 26, 2004, killing tens of thousands.

"The founder, Dian Alyan, started it soon after the 2004 tsunamis hit in Southeast Asia," said MSAN member Nabill Idrisi, a freshman.

Alyan is "a native of Indonesia who lost 40 of her relatives in the 2004 tsunami," ICS Co-president Evelyn Mintarno, a coterminal student in electrical engineering, explained.

The GiveLight Foundation was established in January 2005 in Sunnyvale, Calif.

"The first orphanage opened in Aceh, Indonesia," Idrisi said. "The orphanage provides basic needs to the children, including food, shelter, and clothing."

"In addition to the orphanage in Indonesia, Ms. Alyan has broken ground on a second orphanage in Pakistan to help the victims of last year's earthquake," Mintarno said.

She added that she hoped fund-raising efforts would also go toward relief for the earthquake that hit Indonesia on Sunday, killing more than 3,500 people. The quake was the worst natural disaster to occur in the region since the 2004 tsunami left more than 30,000 children orphaned.

Stanford students became involved with the Foundation's efforts about a month ago when Alyan came to campus to speak about GiveLight and how students could help. Alyan highlighted the Foundation's emphasis on education and how its goals were fundamentally aligned with those of the University.

"GiveLight sends children to local public schools, but also offers complimentary education that includes computer skills, English, Arabic and Islamic studies," Mintarno explained. "Establishing this educational basis for the orphans ensures that these future leaders will understand the importance of higher learning."

Idrisi said he was "powerfully impacted by the work that [Alyan] has done and the extent to which her work has improved the lives of so many children."

The fund-raiser, which began last Monday, will end on Wednesday. So far, this effort has raised more than $1,000 of its $2,000 goal.

Mintarno said that the Foundation's goal is to "inform people about the devastation in Indonesia, the possibility for rehabilitation and how much just three dollars can help."

"Just $3 can provide nine hot meals, three days of shelter and complimentary English and computer lessons," she said.

To spread awareness, students have been tabling in White Plaza, advertising in The Daily and through a Facebook group and flier and collecting donations online through a PayPal account (http://tinyurl.com/lwppf). Students have also been going to various dorms to attend house meetings and raise donations door-to-door.

The fund-raiser will culminate with a reception this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Room 200-02 of the History Corner. The event will include a movie screening and a speech by Alyan, who will share her experiences. Tickets are $3, and dessert will be served.

"Three dollars feeds an orphan for three days, so any amount is greatly appreciated," Idrisi said.

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