In the Media

Books

Biography

Curriculum Vitae


	A (somewhat dated) volunteer information site

We salute and congratulate our friend Robin Lim for being named the 2011 CNN Hero of the year.

Robin Lim is an internationally-recognized midwife, well-known author and talented poet. Her non-profit Indonesian birthing and educational clinics have saved hundreds of lives and delivered thousands of babies over the last decade, serving the poor and medically disenfranchised citizens of Bali and, far away, in the tsunami-ravaged province of Aceh, Sumatra. After 13 years of service and frequent financial challenges, "Ibu" (Mother) Robin and her organization remain indefatigably committed to changing the world, one gentle birth at a time.

The $250,000 award which is CNN's award for the honor, will help pay for a much-needed new clinic.

Robin Lim has garnered the devotion and support of birth professionals and women all over the world, for good reason. At present, she is embarking on her own teaching career via WisdomBirth.Org (underdevelopment). Robin is, for instance, an outspoken crusader for "not cutting the umbilical cord early". See an interview with her

Robin is a crusader for women and their right to have births in a healthy way that fits their cultural beliefs. She works around the clock. She loves humanity and gave immense comfort to those who suffered in the tsunami and watched their worlds and loved ones wash away. She gives whatever money she can to help husbands buy their babies out of the hospital which has ransomed them if they don't have money to pay for the birth. She's an angel to the people she works with and to us who love her. You'd love her too!

Vina Miller
Fairfield, IA

Robin's work: general background information

The maternal and infant mortality rates in Indonesia are startling.

In 1994, traveling in Indonesia after a personal life challenge, and seeing first-hand the results of the statistics quoted above, Robin began providing health services for pregnant women and children under five for free in the area of Ubud, Bali. From the very first, no one was turned away, no matter how poor they were. Robin soon returned to the United States, and became a Certified Professional Midwife.

Returning to Bali, a full-fledged, official organization was formed: Yayasan Bumi Sehat ("Healthy Mother Earth Foundation"). Over the next decade as demand grew and knowledge of Bumi Sehat's services became widespread, others joined in to support the initiative of providing care for women and children of need. Bumi Sehat is a fully-recognized Indonesian NGO, and in 2007 was recognized as one of the most well-run NGO's in that country.

The Bumi Sehat clinics are funded entirely by private donations. The clinics' modus operandi is "respect for science, nature, and tradition. Their daily practices employ both traditional and "modern" gentle birthing methods which Robin collectively calls Wisdom Birth. The practices iinclude--among others-- waterbirthing and delayed cutting of the umbilical cord. Wisdom Birth is a nice term, she says, because the practices 1) wisely make for a safer birth and 2) tend to produce healthier, even more emotionally intelligent youngsters.*

For instance, Robin's new book, Placenta: The Forgotten Chakra, documents an increase in mother-baby bonding and the baby's better emotional health when cutting of the umbilical cord is delayed. Robin has also written other books, which are available in pdf format.

Robin's clinics do, of course, employ modern or typical medical interventions whenever necessary.

Families at Bumi Sehat, the main clinic in Ubud, Bali

In 2002 and again in 2005, Bali was rocked by terrorist bombings, which devastated its tourist economy. Bumi Sehat's work became even more important, as hospital births became more unreachable for the craft-dependant citizens.

On December 26, 2004, there was a horrible tsunami in Aceh, on the western-most tip of Sumatra. Nearly every family had lost one or more of its members. In immediate response YBS volunteers traveled 1,000 miles, provided much-needed medical supplies for survivors, offered emergency services, and began to serve the death-shocked mothers of the population.

When "Bumi Sehat" first arrived, a tarp-covered shack in the bushes was used as a small hospital and birthing center. A dedicated set of doctors, nurses and midwives came from around the world to help in the efforts. Robin's foundation soon raised funds from global sources, and built a permanent clinic to provide ongoing health services in the village of Cot near the city of Meulaboh, Aceh. Robin is beyond grateful for the donors who made this happen.

Aceh is primarily Muslim

Bali is primarily Hindu

All of Bumi Sehat's services in both locations are performed with a wide mantle of respect for the varied beliefs and traditions of its patients.

By the time of this writing, Yasasan Bumi Sehat, even though small, has become an important and respected fixture of Bali's mother and child, birthing-and-educational life.

In 2007 the non-profit Bumi Sehat Yayasan or ‘Healthy Mother Earth Foundation’ was chosen #1 not-for-profit organization in Bali, of over 700. The selection process was rigorous and all aspects of our projects, from patient care, to computer courses for youth, to recycling were analyzed, our administration was checked and rechecked to see if our licenses are complete and current, our financial books were reviewed and we were found to be corruption free. I must admit to being very very proud of our staff ... Also, I feel full of gratitude for the donors, who make every aspect of our work possible. Thank you for your help!
--Robin, January 2008

In early 2010, following the tragic earthquake in Haiti, Robin & Bumi Sehat led a team of midwives with supplies and helped to establish a mother and child health and birth center in Jacmel, licensed by the Department of Health. In June 2010, Robin and the Bumi Sehat Board turned the Haiti clinic over to another NGO so it could go on as a permanent installation, serving the earthquake survivors.

In addition to all of this, Robin Lim's foundation also facilitates capacity building in Indonesia, mentors student midwives from Bali and from around the world, has established a free Youth Center in Ubud which teaches English and computer skills to local teens, and has organized a major recycling program in that locality.