ABOUT THE ORANGUTAN CARING SCHOLARSHIP

The Orangutan Caring Scholarship (OCS) is a collaborative program of the Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) and three Indonesian implementing organizations:  Yayasan Orangutan Sumatra Lestari-Orangutan Information Center or OIC on Sumatra, Yayasan Palung (YP) in West Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) and Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) in Central Kalimantan.

The purpose of the program is to award tuition funding to talented and needy Indonesian students on a competitive basis enabling them to attend university in the fields of Forestry, Biology and Veterinary Science. In addition to being able to attend university, scholarship recipients develop an understanding of the plight of the orangutan from the perspective of the nongovernmental organization. They graduate as advocates of orangutan conservation when entering the private, nonprofit or government workforce. The collaboration between OURF, OIC, YP, and BNF has allowed this program to expand since its first award in 2006. OURF raises and provides the funding and OIC, YP, and BNF administers the actual competition via outreach to schools, evaluates submitted proposals, oversees the selection process, and manages funds to the recipients.

The OCS is open to Indonesian students in North Sumatra, Aceh & West and Central Kalimantan seeking tuition funds for Forestry, Biology, or Veterinary School. One of the requirements of the applicant is to make an effective presentation to a review committee about their research plans. Another is to provide periodic updates to OURF.  In addition, recipients are expected to work with the local NGOs in learning about the orangutan and its plight, and in helping present the information to students in local schools.

AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE

 

 

 

150 students have received the OCS since 2006. Eighty (80) students have already graduated and have obtained jobs or careers in the nonprofit sector or have continued their education.  Click here if you would like to read a profile about students (2006-2010) as they express their appreciation and aspirations. The fields of study (biology, forestry & veterinary science) have been fairly balanced. The number of scholarships have been largely offered based on funds pledged by organizations. Most have been given to students in N. Sumatra attending the University of North Sumatra and University of Medan where the program began. In 2009, students in Aceh at Kuala Syiah University’s veterinary school were included. In 2012, we began offering scholarships to graduating high school students in West Kalimantan planning to attend the University of Tanjung Pura.  And in 2018, we started providing scholarships to students in Central Kalimantan planning to attend the University of Palangka Raya.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We would like to continue to expand this worthwhile program. To do this, we encourage organizations and the general public to contribute to the Orangutan Caring Scholarship Fund. OURF is appreciative of those organizations that have already supported the OCS Fund. Donations in the USA are fully tax-deductible.

OURF also ran a campaign during the first half of 2016 through the GivingGrid to support the OCS Fund. We will continue to run campaigns and encourage interested supporters to conduct peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns to build our fund.

The cost of administering one four-year scholarship (2018) is approximately US$1,500. That single scholarship allows a recipient to be able to pay for school tuition over those years as well as cover the costs of their research and the final write-up.

A special five-year scholarship may be available for veterinary students needing another year of internship to graduate as practicing veterinarians. The number of scholarships we are able to award are based on the level of funding we receive.

Indonesian students in Sumatra wishing to obtain information about applying for the OCS should contact OIC at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Students in West Kalimantan should contact YP at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Students in Central Kalimantan should contact BNF at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Individuals and organizations who would like donate to the Orangutan Caring Scholarship Fund to sponsor one or more scholarships should contact OURF at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or donate through the OURF website.

 

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To download a brochure about the OCS in English, download here; in Bahasa Indonesia, download here.

Individuals and other organizations wishing to contribute to the OCS online can donate below according to the following schedule:

 

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