Did you know you're inspiring future conservation leaders in Indonesia?
Thanks to your wonderful support, the Orangutan Caring Scholarship program has been helping students follow their dreams to protect nature. And this year, we’re celebrating an amazing milestone: 20 years of the scholarship!
Over 300 students are now working to protect wildlife and forests in Indonesia. They are teachers, veterinarians, researchers and conservationists. And it’s all thanks to you!
To celebrate this special milestone, we caught up with Darsimah, a graduate and recipient of the scholarship. Today, Darsimah proudly manages the Orangutan Caring Scholarship program at the Orangutan Information Center. She also leads education and awareness activities with schools and local communities, helping more young people learn about nature and why it’s so important to protect it.
Meet Darsimah, a Proud Conservation Hero
Darsimah was inspired to protect nature because of her deep love for it. Growing up alongside the forest, she spent her afternoons playing by the river and in the garden. She spent hours among the trees, harvesting fruit.
Being so connected to nature, Darsimah wanted to preserve it. And with a love of living beings, she decided to study Biology at university!
In her third year of studies, Darsimah applied for the scholarship. She was thrilled to hear she was selected in 2013. The scholarship led to an internship at the Orangutan Information Center, working on a forest restoration project. Darsimah spent her days cultivating seedlings, planting trees, and monitoring wildlife in their natural habitat.
“I met many people who had dedicated their lives to conservation. It sparked my interest in nature conservation and made me feel called to be involved in this field,” she said.
Receiving the scholarship was a pivotal point for Darsimah. It helped her land her first job at the Orangutan Information Center as a restoration field staff member. She observed and documented plants and animals in the forest, monitored plant growth, and guided students who visited the restoration sites.
Fast forward to today, Darsimah now manages the Orangutan Caring Scholarship program. She proudly helps other students follow their dreams, just like she did. She also runs a nature school, offering environmental education to students and community members who live near the forests.
“The most rewarding part of my work is seeing the direct results of conservation efforts, such as the recovery of ecosystems damaged by land-use changes, and finding key wildlife thriving in the forest via trail cameras.
And the growing awareness among the community, especially students, to protect the environment.”
When we asked Darsimah about a moment that made her feel proud of her work, she shared:
“After about eight years working in education and awareness, the most proud moment for me was when graduating students were able to continue their education to higher levels, even to university.”
The best part? Many of these students chose to work in roles that protect forests and wildlife. They actively chose not to become illegal hunters, loggers, or land encroachers, which many in their families and communities had previously done.
This is fantastic news. Together, with Darsimah, you’re changing the future of forests in Indonesia, one student at a time.
“I am also proud of the tree-planting program with students–one student, one tree. The trees they planted have now grown and bear fruit, becoming a food source for wildlife and can be harvested.”
Thank You For Helping Make Stories Like Darsimah’s Possible.
Your kindness is not only saving forests and protecting wildlife, but also inspiring and supporting the next generation of leaders, who will protect them for years to come.
Here’s to the next 20 years of changing lives and saving nature, together!
Program name: Orangutan Caring Scholarships
Location: North Sumatra; West, Central and East Borneo; Aceh, Indonesia
Program Partner: Orang Utan Republik Foundation