I am originally from Germany, a translator and teacher by profession and have been living with my Javanese family in Yogyakarta on Java for 23 years now. I have 2 children, one son and one daughter, both of which are currently training in Germany. Living here in Indonesia it was always very important to me to spend a lot of time with my children in nature and to make them appreciate and love the beauty of nature.
The natural phenomena of nature's power particularly in Indonesia so unpredictable, omnipresent and sometimes very destructive, always makes me aware of how small and insignificant mankind is, despite all technological progress. In a country like Indonesia nature conservation and species protection efforts are still facing many great challenges. The biggest problem is ignorance and lack of education of the local population. There are enough laws, but they are all too often not respected and not enforced.
It was during a release of orang utans in Central Kalimantan, when I met the chairman of the Turtle Foundation for the first time. Sea turtles, these large animals that move so elegantly in the water, have thrilled me form the very beginning. At the beginning of my work for the Turtle Foundation it was not very easy for me: the long boat trips, the simple life on the remote islands, very basic accomodation and simple food, etc. But as time passed by I got used to it.
In particular the infrastrucre on the two new islands is very simple indeed. There is practically no privacy. I am also the only female in the team,.... the "Ibu", mother, as it is called in Indonesia. Be it interviews and discussions with our employees or our joint activities, the patrolling of the beaches at night, the registration of nests and their transfer to a safe place, taking meals or beach clean-up operations. Through our joint struggle against the adversity of the Indonesian bureaucracy, endless conflicts of interest, etc., we are strengthened in our fight for the preservation of the turtles. Already we guard 3 Islands already now, 2 others are still to be addressed in the near future.
We need support! Otherwise, the islands are not secured and protected. Only together we are strong!