SEAMEO BIOTROP formalized its five-year collaboration with Yayasan Usaha Mulia (YUM or Foundation for Noble Work) during a simple signing ceremony held on 23 May 2011 at the Centre’s headquarter in Bogor, Indonesia.  The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr. Bambang Purwantara, SEAMEO BIOTROP Director, and Mrs. Olvia Reksodipoetro, YUM Management Board Chairperson.

YUM is a registered charitable organization in Indonesia with the vision “to improve the quality of life for Indonesia’s poor” since 1975.  Its mission is “to work with the communities in providing holistic and sustainable support in the areas of health, education, and community development.”

SEAMEO BIOTROP sees the collaboration with YUM as an opportunity to expand the service scope of its community development program.  Under the MOU, the Centre and YUM shall (a) collaborate to undertake research, training, information exchange and other relevant activities in communities where development interventions are most needed especially in Central Kalimantan and Bogor, West Java where both parties fully operate; (b) exchange technical expertise and staff; and (c) generate and mobilize resources for joint implementation of specific activities.

Other signatories in the MoU were Dr Jesus C. Fernandez, SEAMEO BIOTROP Deputy Director for Program and Marketing, and Mrs. Hannah Baerveldt, YUM Management Board Director as witnesses. Also present during the signing were Centre unit heads. (JF)