The following is a contribution by Siti Badriyah, one of the hundreds of recipients of scholarships from the Jakarta-based Goodwill International Foundation last chaired by Mizue Hara and supported by her husband Yasuo Hara, among others. The couple, who were murdered Thursday night in their home in Tangerang, Banten, were long-time residents and senior members of the Japanese expatriate community. The foundation was set up in the late 1990s by expatriates concerned about the future of Indonesia, particularly the education of the young, following the financial crisis.
JP/SITI BADRIYAH I met Ibu Mizue Hara through the Goodwill International Foundation in 2004. Goodwill is a foundation providing scholarships to high achievers at the University of Indonesia (UI) and the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) who need financial support. The scholarship is unique because the program
provides training in life skills such as leadership for the individual’s future needs. I am one of hundreds
of UI and IPB students who have been helped immensely by Goodwill, which Ibu Hara led for 10 years, and we are so very shocked by her sudden passing. Pak Hara was always at her side in all her activities at Goodwill.
The news made my heart stop for a moment ... How come someone who was so kind, so gentle and so caring to Indonesian children be murdered? It was beyond comprehension.
Our mailing list, Facebook and other social networking sites have been flooded with hundreds of expressions of condolence, memories, and appreciation both from recipients of scholarships and from all those who knew them. They are remembered not only as educators but as parents by many of us.
An alumni, Assyaukani, writes that he “owed a lot” to Mizue Hara, and prayed that “Mother and Father” — Ibunda dan Ayahanda — would be accepted at His side. Mukti Ali, a law student from UI, cites “all their effort and sincerity in dedicating themselves to give the best to Indonesian children”.
Mizue Hara, writes Warid, a graduate of UI’s School of Public Health, gave “so much support and love to
me and so many other Indonesians. Her love and motivation to create a future Indonesian generation was a spirit that never died and always pushed us to do better”.
An alumni from UI’s School of Psychology, Vidia, shares her most memorable moment with them. This, she said, “was when they said that they were so proud of me when I graduated from UI. There was such enormous love from them that I won’t ever forget it.”
The scholarship was a virtual last chance for Sutarto, who has completed his master’s degree in physics at UI. The Haras “gave me a chance to reach my goals when almost all doors were shut,” he said.
Another psychology graduate of UI, Putri Suci, sums up their role: “They were people who dedicated their life to promoting Indonesia’s education.”
Their words now resonate following their passing. On the Goodwill website Mizue’s message is still posted for the foundation’s 10th anniversary last year:
“The Chinese character for ‘person’ is a pictograph of two people leaning against each other, showing that the people who created this word in the dawn of history thought that human beings could stand when supporting each other — ‘trust’.
“We should remember that trust is very fragile ... I believe that the Goodwill International Scholarship students have established relationships built on high levels of trust with their sponsors ... Since our students have overcome one of the biggest challenges already in being accepted to a university and winning a scholarship, I feel sure they can tackle all the others that will arise with equal energy, determination and confidence.”
And from the notes by her husband we learn a little of their story:
“Mizue loves to study. Her lifetime dream was to obtain a university diploma in psychology, but,
unfortunately, she couldn’t do this in Japan.
“In 1998, during the political and financial crises of Indonesia, Mizue decided to stay in Indonesia to fulfill her responsibilities at various organizations, while her husband had to close the Jakarta representative office of the company where he had worked for 33 years and go back to Japan to find a new job. I think that my wife’s passion for studying Indonesian culture made her want to stay and do something useful for Indonesian society.”
It took eight months until they were reunited in Indonesia in the year 2000, when she had found an once-in-a-lifetime dream job for her husband at the Jakarta Japanese School. When her husband’s contract with the Japanese school ended in 2003, she urged that they stay in this country for good.
“Since that time, she has succeeded in leading the scholarship program for Indonesian students who were facing many challenges in pursuing their studies...
“In volunteering and dedicating herself to this program, she has indeed realized a lifelong dream.” wroteYasuo Hara.
For myself, a graduate of UI’s School of Public Health, and a recipient of the scholarship in 2005, Mr. and Mrs. Hara were a couple who spread their love sincerely across race and across nations in their effort to advance the education of Indonesia’s young.
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