Our open-air facilities require minimal power for cooling, and our local- style washing and drying techniques reduce electricity demands as well. Also more recently, we have begun to plant trees in order to replenish forests on our island.

ICI’s Philosophy Community Development:

• Think about long term effects before committing to short term solutions
• “It’s better to teach someone how to fish than to give them fish”
• Allow the community to determine their needs.  We want to be careful not to impose western values or culture onto the local community, so as much as possible we want to follow the leading of the local community.
• The community has to contribute significantly to the development of programs and the carrying out of those programs
• We give to the community, not to individuals or government agencies
• Accountability and follow-up is essential
• Cash gifts are very rarely given.  It is more preferable to buy the items that are needed ahead of time.
• Partnership with other organizations is desired, where ICI/Telunas Beach acts as a facilitator to bring the two parties together, as long as the aid fits the aim and philosophy of our Community Development Program and the community desires the assistance.
• We reserve the right to stop any community development program that is bringing more harm to the community than good or where local officials are benefiting more than the common person.

Population and Geographical Distribution
The Riau Melayu (or Riau Malays) are the largest and most dominant ethnic group in the Riau province of Indonesia. This province comprises part of southern Sumatra island, the Lingga archipelago and the Riau islands, a huge land mass of over 94,000 sq km and 3,214 islands.

The Riau Melayu have historically assimilated large numbers of nomadic and migrating peoples into their culture, such as the Banjarese, Minangkabau, Javanese, Mandailing and Bugis.

Today, there are an estimated 2.2 million Riau Melayu people including the ethnic groups they have assimilated historically. Some 1.6 million Riau Melayu live on the Sumatra mainland, primarily in settlements along the three great rivers (Indragiri, Kampar and Siak), while another 600,000 live on the Riau islands.

Language and Dialects
The primary language of most Riau Melayu is Bahasa Indonesia. Riau Melayu, a dialect of Malay, is used at home and among themselves.

Economy and Livelihood
The Riau province exhibits many of the features of a “dual” economy. On the one hand there is the high technology, capital intensive oil sector, and on the other a traditional low technology and agricultural sector.

Riau province contains the most productive oil fields in Indonesia and pumps half the nation’s crude oil each day. Over 85% of the province’s GDP is generated by petroleum and natural gas production. Pekanbaru, the regional capital of Riau province, acts as the administrative center of the oil industry in the area. The majority of native Riau islanders are farmers and active fishermen. About 62% are farmers growing and harvesting products from rubber, oil palm and gambir trees.

Two of the most advanced of the Riau islands are Batam and Bintan, currently the focus of multi-million dollar investment opportunties. In 1989 the Singapore government proposed the linkage of Johor (the southernmost state on peninsula Malaysia), Singapore and the Riau Islands in a synergistic “Growth Triangle” —a free-trade economic zone that would benefit all three areas. As Batam and Bintan continue to develop, industrial workers and employees in large tourist resorts are expected to outpace the number of farmers and fishermen. The greatest need at present is the meaningful vocational training or work activities for youth, because a vast number of them are unemployed.

Culture
Riau province is proud of its historical role in the development of Malay culture. Most of the Riau Melayu peoples see themselves as being open, friendly and accepting of newcomers. They feel this has been an important part of their historical tradition, since for centuries they have lived in cordial proximity to the Bugis, Makasar, Chinese and Javanese peoples.

Religion
Islam is the religion for 99.99% of the Riau Melayu people. They have been taught from childhood that Islam alone is the true religion for their people.

Health Needs

CONTEXT:
This initial survey was conducted by a group of MBA students from the Carlson School of Business with approximately 40 local leaders who gathered at Pulau Terong on 04 Jan 2004. This is a portion of their findings which highlights many of the felt needs in the community.

OBJECTIVE:
To better understand and prioritize the health needs of the Riau Melayu people in order to develop and implement a sustainable CD program.

GOALS:
To encourage preventative health measures.
To eliminate Malaria cases.
To improve the nutrition level.
To clean-up the islands.

FINDINGS & STATISTICS:

• Clinics are for first aid only (minor medical issues).

• Geranting has a midwife clinic for birthing.

• Geranting is typically a 15-minute boat ride to see the midwife.

• Midwife cost ~ 40,000 rupiah per check-up and Rp.300,000 to give birth.

• There is a birth control method being used, Pil KB (family planning), and a government program to control the number of children per family.

• 1 Help Center per 3,000 people.

• 1 clinic per 30,000 people.

• No doctors.

• 2 people caring for 3,400 people and 1 midwife.

• Caregivers are a step below nurses.

• Healthcare is available to all.  (Cost restrictions??  Were not identified, but are likely an issue)

• If cannot be treated at clinic, must go to hospital with “proof of inability to pay” slip.

PRIORITY NEEDS:
Malaria

• Assumed cause – the tide comes in and leaves pools of stagnant water; the rain mixes and creates the breeding ground for mosquitoes and in turn Malaria.

• This problem waxes and wanes.

• Government has offered assistance by giving free care in government hospital to those with Malaria (reactive).

Nutrition

• Little to no nutritional value.

• Cause – do not have money to purchase nutritional food.

• There is nutritional food on the island, but cannot afford to purchase it and it is more expensive in Batam.

• The cleaner, smaller islands, such as Terong, have fewer problems than some others, but nutrition is still a valid concern.

• The lack of nutrition is not age discriminate.

• The people have enough protein from fish.

• They are lacking vitamins – only eat cauliflower and sometimes carrots.  Jack fruit causes diarrhea if eaten in excess.

Sanitation

• This is an obvious need, but the people do not want to know how unclean they are.
• This is a main hazard to weakening the immune system.
• People are more susceptible to illness and to Malaria due to unsanitary conditions.

Education Needs

CONTEXT
This initial survey was conducted by a group of MBA students from the Carlson School of Business with approximately 40 local leaders who gathered at Pulau Terong on 04 Jan 2004.  This is a portion of their findings which highlights many of the felt needs in the community.

OBJECTIVE
To better understand and prioritize the education needs of the Riau Melayu people in order to develop and implement a sustainable CD program.

FINDINGS & STATISTICS

• Cost = 4,000 rupiah per month per child to attend school.

• Travel to school on other island = 1,000 rupiah.

• Basic student cost = 40,000 rupiah per month per child for transportation and education.

• Rp.100,000 per month per high school student = covers everything.

• The schools are government schools and are subsidized Rp.400,000 per month for operations only (not enough).

• Morning studies include:  English, math, biology, physics, Indonesian history, moral studies (ethics), art, and P.E.  Evening studies are extracurricular and are religious studies at the Mosque, or other religion.

• Teachers are trained everywhere and appointed through a private foundation by the government.

• Students are ranked and then apply to high school.

• Over a 3 year period, 1 in 70 went on to college (.01%).

• Students cannot attend college due to the large expense, not due to inability to be accepted (this is not proven).

• Last year the high school joined the aptitude testing and ranked 3rd in the Batam area.

FELT NEEDS:
Supplies

• Books – only teachers have books. 1 in 5 students have books.

• Teaching aids: pictures, samples, teaching modules, instruction tools, etc…

• Facilities.

• Computers – there is no exposure to technology.

• Electricity during school hours (have from 5/6pm – 7am, less in some cases).

• Libraries.

• Laboratories.

Funding

• Students attend school sporadically due to inability to pay.

• May attend one month and then skip one (income is not consistent).

• Often attend through middle school and are unable to continue.

• Students are unable to attend college not because of ability, but due to financing.

• Scholarships for children to attend.

• Transportation is expensive and schools are too far away to walk.

Instruction

• Salary to teachers is very low.

• Teachers are concerned with their own survival, rather than being able to focus on education.

• Receive wage in Batam or Karimun and must pay cost of transportation.

• 1 teacher for 30-40 students.

• There are no English teachers – very high need.

PRIORITIES:

1. Books
2. Teaching Aids/Computers
3. Teachers
4. English

Haven’t seen an community development program that fits your interests? Create your own…

• Maybe you’re a school and you want to raise funds to bring new school supplies to the children.

• Maybe you’re a religious group that wants to help the poor by building a health clinic for them.

• Maybe you’re a group of friends that love to get away each month and relax, but would also be up to spend a few hours each month teaching English to a group of Junior High students.

• Maybe you’re a health professional and you want to contribute your time by giving free check-ups or by donating much needed medicine or by training community health workers.

• Maybe you’re a youth organization that wants to help a community clean up their trash in order to live healthier lives.

• Maybe you’re a family that doesn’t want to have just a typical vacation, but you want to make a difference and create lasting memories for your children.  How about a family work project?

• Maybe you’re a company and you want your managers to learn a thing or two about leadership.  Why don’t you have them assess a need, develop a solution, and implement their program?

• Have any of these sparked your interest?  Or maybe you’ve been able to think of some others areas that you might be able to help in.  Whatever it is, contact us and we’ll see if we can make it happen.