A Hero’s Dedication to Hope

On Friday 26th January, the 2009 CNN Hero Mr. Budi Soehardi came by Bina Bangsa (Kebun Jeruk) to kindly give a presentation on the great things happening at the Roslin Orphanage in West Timor that he is known for around the world.

Mr Budi had rescued 48 children in the midst of the 1998 reformation in Indonesia. He became a father to them, providing for them and most importantly, caring for them as they were growing up. He is an inspirational figure, with a set of values that inspires others who hear him.

It is noteworthy that during the time that Pak Budi was a pilot he donated all of his income to running the orphanage. Wanting to pour his whole life into the work of the orphanage, he quit his stable and glamorous job of a pilot after 40 years in 2015 to devote his full time to running the orphanage with his wife and soul mate, Peggy.

He trusts God to provide the needs of the orphanage through his leadership of imagination, discipline and hard work, where everyone at Roslin, including the children and own family pitches in some area of work or another. The orphanage has not only become self-sufficient in rice production, it also supplies to other Indonesian NGO’s.

As he presented the slides of the on-going work at Roslin, we were humbled by his unconditional care and the way he treated the orphans as if they were his own children. Indeed, the mission of Roslin to empower the destitute orphans with education and family up-bringing to be agents of change in society is borne out of hearts brimming with love. And the mission is being accomplished.

Thank you to everyone that donated to the Roslin Orphanage. BBS KJ raised over 50 million rupiah to support Mr. Budi’s continued dedication to these children.