by nate on Monday, December 7th, 2009 | Family, Health, Indonesia, Love, Love Story, News, World

“To help these children is a privilege for me and my wife because it’s giving back to society … giving back what has been blessed to us.”

-Budi Soehardi

They are cheerful-looking and photogenic, but close to all have a very sad story,” said Budi Soehardi, founder of the West Timor orphanage.

Soehardi, a 53-year-old Indonesian pilot living in Singapore, and his wife, Peggy, look after 47 children at the orphanage. They have a personal relationship with each one, and consider them part of their family. The couple named many of the children since they entered the orphanage as babies – some of them tiny victims and refugees from the conflict in East Timor.

Soehardi has three children of his own but says there is no difference between what he supplies for his biological children and those living at the orphanage. They all get clean living spaces, vaccinations, food, clothing and vitamins from the United States.

“Mr. Budi is like my own father,” said Gerson Mangi, 20, a resident at Roslin Orphanage. Mangi, who came to the orphanage when he was 12 years old, had no means to attend school after his parents died. Now, thanks to the educational training at Roslin and a private sponsor, he is in medical school.

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Tags: Budi Soehardi, Budi Suhardi, children, CNN hero, East Timor, helping children, Indonesian pilot, orphanage, Singapore Airlines, Timor Timor