w w w . l e a p i n . o r g

Indo Jiwa on Holiday

After five full years of active service the "Indo Jiwa" will be taking a much needed break in 2010. It has served as a wonderful way to transport goods and people to the various projects over the years. At times she has been loaded to the hilt with wood and building materials, other times she has been polished and shined for our charter guests, she has hosted many a dance party on her deck and served an ambulance and a hospital ship at times. The Jiwa has been our primary source of income for the projects over the past five years, but now needs a lot of money spent on herself, so she is taking some time off for health reasons.

You can still join in Nias and be a part of the exciting projects that LEAP are running in 2010. This year our focus will be on setting up a vocational training centre for the Pondok Rahmat Children's home in Gunungsitoli. There will also be plenty of time for fun, adventure and great surf, so check out www.Holidayswithpurpose.com for more info on how you can be a part of the action.

Padang Earthquake Relief

Padang was our home for four years and birth place of our two youngest children Mahlia and Sunny, it holds a very special place in our hearts. The images we see are not just of destroyed buildings but of places where we used to shop and eat and meet with friends. Many of our friends there are struggling to come to terms with their losses and others are kicking into action and making a difference in the relief effort. Please help us to help them assist those most in need by donating funds to provide tarpaulins; mattresses and blankets; food; hygiene packs and other necessary items. Be assured that 100% of your donations will go directly to the people.

See our the Donations page for details and please make sure to reference your payment �Padang�

Thank You,

Ruby and Channa Senaratne

LEAP School Sponsorship Program

Getting an education in Nias is regarded as a privilege and not yet as a
basic human right. The families here are faced with many obstacles when it comes to educating their children including lack of finances, distance from schools and even parents that still believe it is not important. Ensuring the children get an education is giving them a head start in life. Giving them the tools to lift themselves up out of poverty and creating long term sustainable changes for a generation. That�s is why LEAP has decided to get behind the Children�s home 100% and you can help by sponsoring a child, for just AUS $30 a month you will be helping a child meet all their basic needs.

If your interested in sponsoring a child please contact us at
leapin@gmail.com for further details.

Children Needing Sponsorship

Latest Leapin.org News

The 2009 season has been one of the best yet, we have really seen the local people around the Hinako islands grow and make positive changes. It was only a few weeks ago that our beautiful Kids Club had their graduation and as sad as it was we were excited to see them break the poverty cycle and decide to attend school on the main Island.

The Panti/Orphanage is going really well. With some of volunteers we rolled up our sleeves and did some long overdue maintenance�the place looks amazing. We also had a great time teaching the children basic hygiene and proper food preparation methods, it was so much fun and the kids really took it on board. Please continue to look around our website as we now have a child sponsorship program for our children in th orphange.

As it�s been in the last few years, our volunteers have played a large
role in building long-term, sustainable projects during their one month stays on Asu. We would like to thank them for their hard work in the 2009 season and we hope to see them again in the years to come.

Our Garden Project has been very successful this year. We have been eating some of the tastiest vegetables known to man (mainly because it is the fruit of our labour), but the most exciting part is that some of the local woman on Asu are now starting to grow their own gardens. This means that their families can now sit down to healthy nutritious meals and will avoid diseases and problems that have plagued their families for generations.

So all in all up to now 2009 has been a profitable year and we look forward to what the future holds for us. Finally thank you to all those that are supporting Leap, we couldn�t be doing what we do without you.

Indo Jiwa back in action

We have just returned to port after our first trip, a great time was had by all, with an enthusiastic group of guys from NZ, Aussie and Canada.
It was wonderful to see all of our friends on the islands and in Guningsitoli.
The Kids clubs are going strong with high attendance rates, the local teachers are writing their own programmes now with topics such as "how to raise pigs"; "fishing" and "taking care of siblings"

we still have plenty of Holidays with Purpose and volunteer spots available...so come and join in the fun of making a positive change!

2009 season almost here!

We are getting closer to the beginning of our Indo Jiwa charter season�the old girl is currently undergoing a thorough refit in Sibolga, West Sumatra. An extension to the wheelhouse crew bunks allows for an extra 3 guest spots�so now you don�t have to leave anyone at home!

Our first trip starts on the 6th of April, we are looking forward to getting back out to see all of our friends in the village communities.

We are opening up the Asu land base for Holidays with Purpose groups this year, with Mike and Tash Humberstone as hosts�.read more about that on the Holidays with Purpose website.

Volunteer applications are now open and we have had quite a bit of interest. Come and join us and be a part of the team

Matt and Reni had a new baby boy, Justin, in December last year. He has had a rough start being hospitalized a couple of times, but is now growing strong and healthy. Matt and Reni continue to be based in Medan, overseeing the admin, logistics and exporting of the coconut oil.

Indo Jiwa bring dental and health team to the Banyak Islands and Nias.

The most recent Holidays with Purpose charter saw the Indo Jiwa bring a dental and health team to four locations in the Banyak Islands and Nias.

Most of the people treated had never seen a dentist in their life! The medical team conducted safe birth practices; classes for traditional birth attendants; nutritional classes for mothers and children's health clinics. All of the clinics were well received by grateful communities. LEAP would like to thank Coolum Christian Family Church, George and Alicia Hideg and Dentsply, Labtech and Trollplast for donating dental supplies.

Graduating out of poverty!

Our first four graduates from the Coconut Kids Club on Asu Island went on to start Primary school recently! Many of the children on Asu do not normally attend school, however through the success of our preschool programme and the relationships we have built with the parents, we have been able to convince some of them of the importance of education. For some of these children they will be the first generation in their family to receive a formal education, the first step up the ladder out of poverty and illiteracy!

Water for Everyone!

The second phase of our water installation project is just winding up with the last pump being installed this week. This will bring us to a total of 55 community water pumps installed by us in the Hinako Islands, securing a clean and continuous water supply for up to 3,000 people! Thanks to SurfAid who sponsored the first 22; Richard Cansale, Alan McKenzie and the folk at Eldon Avenue Methodist for donating 42 Canzee pumps for the second phase and to Unicef Nias for funding the installation of the last 30 pumps.

HWP Video posted on YouTube.com