Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative

Founded in October 2004, The Orang Utan Republik (OUR) Education Initiative is a project under the umbrella of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE). 

The mission of OUR Education Initiative is to facilitate conservation education regarding the endangered orangutan so that it will be saved from extinction.

In order for the endangered orangutan to be saved from extinction, local Indonesians must become informed about the laws and the consequences of buying or owning orangutans and destruction of the rain forest. Ultimately, Indonesians must come to value the wildlife in the conservation sense and this will come about through effective education campaigns. At the same time, people outside the habitat countries need to better appreciate the orangutan and their role in the tropical ecosystem. OUR Education Initiative will, therefore, target both local and international audiences in programs of conservation education regarding the species and its threatened habitat.

OUR Education Initiative was started by founders of the Orang Utan Republik (OUR), a cause-related company that imports sustainable and environmentally friendly products from Indonesia, home of Asia's only great ape, the orangutan. Wild orangutans are only found on the islands of Borneo and northern Sumatra.

OUR founders donate a portion of the sale of its products to OUR Education Initiative (OUREI). Because OUREI is organized as a non-profit project under SEE, it can also accept donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other charitable and grant giving institutions in support of its educational programs..

OUR Education Initiative Project Director, Gary Shapiro, Ph.D. began his involvement with orangutans over 30 years ago and was the co-founder and vice president of the Orangutan Foundation International from 1986-2004. Dr. Shapiro and his Indonesian wife, Inggriani, were inspired to create OUR Education Initiative in response to the education needs underscoring the crisis facing orangutans today, particularly in Sumatra. In July 2005, they invited Angelina Sondakh, one of the newest members of the Indonesian Parliament, to become OUREI's Ambassador. Angelina has been in promoting orangutan and conservation issues for many years and was Miss Indonesia 2001. As Ambassador, Angelina effectively articulates OUREI's mission to government and the Indonesian people.  Angelina and her staff under the banner of OUREI have also helped organize Club Peduli Orang Utan Indonesia or the Indonesian Orangutan Caring Club.  The group will conduct education programs in schools and universities as well as participate in events such as Orangutan Caring Week.

Join Our Campaigns Benefiting Orangutan Survival

Campaigns do work. In 2005, we successfully campaigned for an officially declared orangutan awareness week in Indonesia: Pekan Peduli Orang Utan. This week of orangutan celebration will be held each year and will raise awareness throughout the archipelago as more and more people and organizations participate.

You can help us in our current campaign to "Stop the Illegal Orangutan Trade" by signing our online petition. http://www.petitionthem.com/default.asp?sect=detail&pet=2386

Once you sign, please help us by asking friends and family to sign the petition as well. We will keep you informed about the status of the petition and our efforts to work with Indonesian officials to improve law enforcement regarding the illegal trade.

We also encourage you to write letters and send email to officials to encourage and thank them for supporting activities that benefit orangutan survival.  Be polite and to the point in your correspondence.