All for a Good Cause: Fundraising for The Learning Farm

Jakarta, Indonesia, November 12, 2015 --(PR.com)-- CEO SUITE celebrates the Grand Opening of their 16th centre Sahid Sudirman Centre in Jakarta, and on this joyous occasion, invites all business partners to be part of “planting the seeds of change” to support youths in Indonesia through The Learning Farm.

Co-founded by Ms. Gouri Mirpuri and Ms. Mee Kim, the Learning Farm is a non-profit social entrepreneurship program that empowers marginalized and vulnerable youth (ages 14-25 years old) through a 100 days’ residential program. Serving as an educational centre, school drop-outs, students from low-income families, formerly drug and alcohol users are trained on farming skills, supported by adults who mentor them, and help them build useful skills and meaningful relationships over the course of their lives.

Through organic farming, the youths take full responsibilities for tasks related to running and operating the farm. As they participate in structured learning activities that utilize an "experiential learning" approach, they learn self-discipline, time management, as well as the importance of caring for the environment. The cohesive and supportive community helps them live a more balanced life, regaining self-confidence to provide themselves with a head-start in society and to potentially become leaders in their own communities.

To date, The Learning Farm has run 23 batches of basic programs and 12 advanced-level (200 days) programs continuously with a total of 639 alumni in 24 provinces in Indonesia plus East Timor. Most graduates have found better lives working in farming, service businesses, waste management and some have gone back to school for higher education, with only 5% unemployed.

For 10 years since its establishment, The Learning Farm has been operating on a borrowed land and facility. In 2014, The Learning Farm was granted a 2.4 ha of land by a generous donor, located in Kawung Luwuk village, Cianjur, West Java not far from the current farm location in Maleber. The lease for the current facility will expire in October 2016, pushing the organization to raise funds to build its own new facility in a new location.

All TLF board members and supporters (Gouri Mirpuri, Nona Pooroe Utomo, Deborah Iskandar, Yasmin Wiryawan, Laksmi Djuwita, Somya D. Panigoro, Vera Adjas, Mee Kim, Sita Satar, Sabine Witschel, Rachel Malik, Mariko Asmara, Alfatih Timur, Viola Mananta, and Sanjana K.M) who graced the Opening Gala, are believers in the power of education as a precursor of change that will lead Indonesia into a better tomorrow for all. It is for this very reason that she has helped establish The Learning Farm and has always been its strong supporter.

For more information to support The Learning Farm, please contact www.thelearningfarm.com or contact:

1. Emili Nirmala, Business Improvement Manager, CEO SUITE, (lia@ceosuite.com or 0812 8825 9717)
2. Nona Pooroe Utomo, Executive Director, The Learning Farm, (directortlf@gmail.com or 0811 154872)