Asia PR News

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

The United States-Indonesia Society (USINDO) is collaborating with Syiah
Kuala University in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, to build a model community high
school on the university campus, USINDO President Alphonse F. LaPorta announced
today. This endeavor is a key aspect of the reconstruction of Aceh following
the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the area on December 26, 2004.

( Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051030/DCSU001LOGO )

Numerous donations from American school children, many channeled through
Do Something!, Inc., as well as significant grants (comprised of employee
donations and corporate matching funds) from the Newmont Mining Corporation,
the ExxonMobil Foundation and Credit Renaissance will finance much of the
school construction. Students from the Jakarta International School will go to
Aceh to take part in a community service day to work with local students,
university staff and USINDO staff to prepare the ground for construction.

"The people-to-people nature of the effort epitomizes the strong
relationship between our two countries," asserts LaPorta.

The new high school will educate students primarily from the severely
damaged area surrounding the university. It will be a laboratory school where
university students in UNSYIAH’s College of Education and Teaching (FKIP) will
practice classroom teaching under the supervision of master teachers.

"Because it will be a testing ground for educational innovation, it will
have a major impact on improving education in Indonesia more broadly," La Porta
says. "USINDO is pleased to take the lead in this exciting project, which
complements the Society’s emphasis on re-forging linkages between Indonesian
and American universities."

American school children have raised nearly $250,000 to underwrite the cost
of classrooms. A major donation was made by Do Something!, a national youth
organization that channeled individual student and school funds collected for
tsunami relief. Do Something! inspires, supports and celebrates young people
who desire to change their world and "do something" to make that happen. The
organization activates youth through monthly calls to action in the fields of
community-building, health, and the environment, offers grants and scholarships
to young people with ideas to improve their communities, and publishes a youth
service magazine.

"Do Something! motivates a generation of young people to make a
difference," says CEO, Nancy Lublin, in announcing the grant to the USINDO
project.

Other student donations, raised through walkathons, car washes, and bake
sales, came from the Greenville and Seely Place Elementary Schools, in
Scarsdale, N.Y., Trinity School, New York City; and St. Johnsbury Academy,
Vermont.

Newmont Mining Corporation has led the way with a grant of US$1million for
construction and general support for the school. "We are honored to offer this
assistance to help strengthen the capacity of Banda Aceh to rebuild after such
devastation," says Wayne W. Murdy, Chairman and CEO of the mining company.
"Improving the educational infrastructure during the post-tsunami
reconstruction will help support sustainable communities. The USINDO Aceh
School Project will also serve as a model for improving the national education
system," he added.

A part of Newmont’s donation to the USINDO project comes from a program
established to double-match donations from its employees worldwide to various
reconstruction aid organizations. Newmont officials say the firm is committed
to leaving a learning legacy in Indonesia. This includes building and
renovating schools, providing books and teaching aids, funding mobile libraries
and awarding scholarships to local students. Since 1986, they have awarded
almost 2,700 scholarships to deserving Indonesian students.

The grant from the ExxonMobil Foundation will be applied to building a
free-standing library for the complex that will serve not only the model school
but also two other public schools in the immediate neighborhood. "ExxonMobil
has operated gas production and been a member of the community in Aceh for more
than 30 years. In addition to our contribution to the library we are supporting
other tsunami reconstruction projects including school and health clinic
reconstruction, midwifery training, micro-enterprise, university scholarships
and fishing industry redevelopment," said Gerald McElvy, President, ExxonMobil
Foundation.

Also partnering with USINDO and the University on this ground breaking
project are the Department of Schools, City of Banda Aceh, the Department of
Schools of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, the Ministry of National Education and the
Sampoerna Foundation, a Jakarta-based organization that has been working on
educational projects in Aceh for many years.

USINDO was formed in 1994 by Indonesians and Americans interested in
improving awareness of Indonesia and its importance to the United States.
Incorporated as a private, nonprofit educational organization, the Society is
managed by a distinguished bi-national Board of Trustees and enjoys excellent
recognition and respect at the highest levels of government and the private
sector in both countries.

CONTACT: Patricia Heatherington or Tom Spooner, Education Officer, both
of USINDO, +1-202-232-1400.

SOURCE: United States-Indonesia Society

CONTACT: Patricia Heatherington or Tom Spooner, Education Officer
both of USINDO +1-202-232-1400

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Web site: http://www.usindo.org