28 April 2010 - Medan. The Orangutan Caring Scholarship, started in 2006, has developed into a highly respected and sought after academic prize by biology, forestry and veterinary students in Sumatra, Indonesia. Funding and implementing the annual scholarship program is a collaborative effort by the Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) and the Sumatran Orangutan Society and their Orangutan Information Center (SOS-OIC) in Medan, Sumatra. The competitive scholarship provides the winning students four years of tuition and funds for conducting their thesis research and write-up. Such support is critical for highly motivated and talented students who can otherwise not afford to pay for their tuition. In exchange for receiving the award, the students provide support to SOS-OIC in conducting outreach programs to nearby schools, inspiring and educating the youth of the area.

This year, ten scholarships were awarded to students from both North Sumatra and Aceh provinces. This was double the number of awards in 2009. These two provinces are important as they are the only geographic areas where the Sumatran orangutan is found in the wild. The five students in North Sumatra came from three different universities while the five students from Aceh were scheduled to attend the veterinary school at the University of Kuala Syiah. The North Sumatran students were: Iskandarrudin from the Biology Department of UMA and Gunung Leuser National Park; Fitra Dewi Warti Lubis from the Forestry Department at the University of North Sumatra; Akhirul Hijry from the Forestry Department at the University of North Sumatra; Christina Hutabarat from the Biology Department at the University of Medan; Rahmad Zubeir Harahap from the Biology Department at the University of North Sumatra. The Acehese students were: Qaida Minati, Ichsan Taufik Nasution, Maiyus Musrianti, Awaluddin, Ali Murtala, all entering the veterinary school at the University of Kuala Syiah in Banda Aceh.

OURF is appreciative for the financial support provided by the Australian Orangutan Project for providing 5 of the 10 scholarships, Orangutan Outreach for providing 2 scholarships, Orangutan Conservancy for providing 1 scholarship and donors to the OURF for the remaining 2 scholarships. OURF is also grateful for the contributions made by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) for providing a seasoned orangutan field manager to help judge the competition. SOCP has also provided funds to OCS recipients who conduct their field work in Bukit Lawang to augment the OCS research fund.

OURF endeavors to develop a reliable source of support for this successful program and encourages other conservation and education based organizations and socially responsible companies to contribute to the Orangutan Caring Scholarship Fund. For more information, click here.