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Elisabeth Riphagen and Brother Jan Koppens with some contact persons. WORK OF THE FOUNDATION BONDGENOOT PARTNER INDONESIA Indonesië The ‘Foundation Bondgenoot Partner’ devotes itself to the plight of the less fortunate in Indonesia, both children and adults. Work is being done through educational and social projects. Brother Jan Koppens, Provincial Superior of the Brothers CMM in The Netherlands, together with Gerrit and Elisabeth Riphagen visited, on behalf of the foundation, some projects between October 16 and November 13. Brother Jan worked in Indonesia between 1970 and 1996, as novice-master and as provincial superior. The following is a brief look back at the origin of the foundation and his working visit. In the 60’s and 70’s Gerrit and Elisabeth Riphagen worked in Rantepao (Sulawesi) for the Protestant mission. They got involved in a senior secondary technical school and in an orphanage. After many years they returned to The Netherlands, but Elisabeth remained actively involved in the orphanage. In 1999 the couple went back to Sulawesi after an absence of 27 years. Right then a disaster struck: the most expensive part of the technical school was destroyed by a fire. Was this the end of the school? The couple felt called to rebuild the school with the help of sponsors. With the utmost effort and many working visits they succeeded. A beautiful new technical school arose at the edge of Rantepao City. Gerrit Riphagen then started to visit and guide new school projects. To support these 10 initiatives the ‘Foundation Bondgenoot Partner’ was established. I was invited to become a board-member. Gerrit and Elisabeth kept on urging me to join them some time on a working visit. It happened on October 16. For the next four weeks we would visit projects in Sumatra and Sulawesi. Water Shortage The flight to Medan (Sumatra) went very well. To me it was like a homecoming. We were welcomed by Brother Aris Payung and our contact person in Sumatra, Pak Samosir. Gerrit and Elisabeth then left straight away for Pematang Siantar. I remained for two days in Medan. I visited a place for the mentally handicapped. Sister Kristiana (Sisters KFSL, an independent branch of the
Franciscan Sisters of Bennebroek) gave me a guided tour. Her immense involvement with the children, their development and future was palpable. The single biggest problem they often face is water shortage. One needs to drill deeper boreholes to provide sufficient water for the 60 children. Perhaps Bondgenoot Partner could give a helping hand. In Pematang Siantar profound discussions took place with the administration of three senior secondary technical schools. For two years the foundation had been able to provide various workshops for teachers (theory and practice) and for the administration. We discussed the progress made in the practice department. A secondary domestic school in Pemantang Siantar, managed by the Sisters KYM (an independent branch of the Sisters of Mercy, Schijndel) has in recent years received through Bondgenoot Partner a new computer room and a good library. That project was completed during our visit. Library Like at other working visits to Pematang Siantar we stayed in the brotherhouse at the Jalan Nias, a good and hospitable house where Brother Bosco Wuarmanuk is in charge as novice-master. One afternoon I made Brother Jan Koppens in a workshop hall of the technical school in Pematang Siantar. . The orphans in Rantepao with their new guitars. a presentation to some 30 novices (sisters and brothers) of four congregations who are following a joint programme. I wholeheartedly hope that I was able to touch them deep down, so that their personal vocation as persons and as religious can further grow and develop. In Balige we stayed with the brothers at Soposurung. Brother Florentinus Halawa is the director of the secondary school ‘Bintang Timur’. The school has a very good name in the area and is the owner of a splendid library and a well trained librarian. Known for her thorough attitude in setting up libraries in Indonesia, Elisabeth has every right to be proud of this one. There were also some rather personal conversations in Balige between Gerrit, Elisabeth and myself. We spoke about faith, ecumenism, brotherhood, religious vows, about the mission and the future of the foundation. Great to feel so at home with one another. Contact Persons In the brotherhouse at Makassar, Sulawesi, Brother Martin Rukka offered us space to conduct some lengthy conversations with our three contact persons in Indonesia. Without the commitment of these partners – all working pro deo – the work of the foundation might well have been headed for extinction. The consultation that took place on October 30 highlighted how we share the same vision and passion. Exactly two months later, on December 30, three young people were approached in The Netherlands to become members of the board of the foundation. They responded with enthusiasm. Thus the board was strengthened with three fresh new people looking at a bright future under the joint inspiration of our three contact persons in Indonesia. Happy Faces In Sulawesi, where we spent two weeks, we visited quite a few school projects either still under construction or completed. I want to pause for a moment at ‘Panti Asuhan’, the orphanage in Rantepao. Through an anonymous donation we were able to buy in Makassar books, several musical instruments and games for the children. It was like Christmas had come early. Happy faces all around. I spoke for some time with an older girl now going to secondary school. Later than planned our journey ended in The Netherlands on November 13. At Schiphol I said goodbye to Elisabeth. Gerrit was to remain for another month in Indonesia. He still had Flores on his agenda. I am so happy to be a small cog in the wheel within the Foundation Bondgenoot Partner. Brother Jan Koppens 11
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