The Scientific and Guarantee Committee of the Alexander Langer Foundation, Bolzano, Italy/Italia, has decided to award the International Alexander Langer Prize for 2006 to Ms. Robin Lim, founder and advisor for the non-profit organisation Yayasan Ibu Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Hearth Foundation), based in Bali, Indonesia.

Robin Lim is a Certified Professional Midwife, with the North American Registry of Midwives, and recently joined the Indonesian Midwifery Association. She is Executive Director of Yayasan Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Hearth Foundation) and Health Director of the Tsunami Relief Clinic in Aceh. The Foundation started by Robin has recently built a small but well qualified and friendly clinic, maternal and child health centre and birth centre.

Robin Lim is called "barefoot midwife" for her efforts in promoting healthy pregnancy, gentle childbirth, serene welcoming of the newborn, and fighting poverty and malnutrition. Following the best Western as well as Non-Western traditions and practices, Robin directs her gentle and friendly efforts to promoting traditional knowledge and herbal medicine and, most importantly, mobilising pregnant women, new mother's human and spiritual resources in caring for themselves and their child, helping them to face the moments of weakness and spiritual vulnerability with emotional strength.

"We believe - Robin wrote - that a gentle and healthy birth is the foundation of a beautiful life. Peace in the world can be fostered starting today, one baby at a time".

Robin Lim, 49, has a diverse genealogy, which mixes Native American, Indonesian, Chinese, Philippine, German and Irish elements. She lives in Bali with her husband Wil Hammerle, and has seven daughters and sons, as well as one niece. Following the December 2004 Tsunami disaster, Robin moved to Banda Aceh (Sumatra), an area that was torn also by ethnic and religious conflicts. Robin has been supporting survivor women, not only by providing them with health care and birth services, but also by helping them in the emotional process, the reconstruction of the social network, and mutual help relationships among people. Robin headed to Yogyakarta right after the area is shook by an earthquake few months ago. There, she established an emergency unit, which not only provides health assistance but also trains the community to be able to start living a healthy lifestyle.

On September 29th, 2006, Robin Lim will receive an award in the frame of the annual meeting "Euromediterranea" dedicated to Alexander Langer, in Bolzano, Italy/Italia.
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Robin also will be received by Mr. Bertinotti, the Italian Parliament's President, on October 5th 2006 in Italy.
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Robin Lim