We visit our suppliers several times a year and feel very involved with these regions. In addition to the employment created by the purchases you make from us, we also support two charities in the region. First of all in Thailand, where the sustainable wood type albizia saman comes from. We use this to make our live edge tables and coffee tables. This tree species is native to South America, so we know that no jungle is cut for this wood. These are trees that are often planted along roads and in parks. We also support a local orphanage in Indonesia. Below you will find more information about these two charities.
FORRU-CMU – Thailand
Nature conservation is very important to us. Once every quarter, we donate a portion of our sales on wooden tables to FORRU-CMU, an organization dedicated to restoring tropical ecosystems and preserving biodiversity.
Through our contact person Sudarat Sangkum we came into contact with Dr. Stephen Elliott, from Chiang Mai University. Dr. Elliott is a passionate scientist who has been working with an enthusiastic team to combat deforestation in Thailand for more than twenty years.
Dr. Elliott his company is called FORRU-CMU. This stands for: Forest Restoration Research Unit – Chiang Mai University. A small team of scientists is researching ways to improve the restoration of tropical ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity, as well as the environment and the storage of carbon.
FORRU-CMU also has a training team that provides information to a wide range of stakeholders based on research results. This information, including books on forest restoration, can be downloaded from their website www.forru.org/en/.
The great thing about FORRU-CMU is that it combines biodiversity conservation with the needs of local peoples living in the mountainous region of Northern Thailand. As a result, the original inhabitants of the area develop a kind of stewardship of the restored area, minimizing deforestation.
The organization is mainly active in Thailand, but it also exports its knowledge to Laos, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia, to help develop appropriate methods adapted to the local ecosystem and socio-political conditions of those countries.
FORRU, Biology Department
Chiang Mai University
Thailand 50200
Tel: +66 81 531 0894
E-mail: stephen_elliott1@yahoo.com
Web: www.forru.org/en/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/forru.cmu.th
LESTARI SAYANG ANAK – INDONESIA
Xyleia Natural Interiors supports the orphanage Lestari Sayang Anak in Jakarta, Indonesia. Lestari Sayang Anak loosely translates to “love children forever”.
The orphanage was founded in 2009 by the Dutch former teacher Ingrid van der Mark, a highly esteemed former colleague of Xyleia director Jan Jaap Lems.
Lestari Sayang Anak is a small-scale project, where the available budget is well spent. Ingrid regularly writes very readable newsletters and reports to keep her sponsors up to date on the course of events. The orphanage was not set up out of religious motives, but purely out of the idealistic will to give less fortunate children a chance for a happy life.
The orphanage is home to ten orphans and children who have been abandoned by their parents. Ingrid ensures that the children are not only well cared for physically, but she finds it especially important that the children receive a lot of loving attention. This is in strong contrast to the large and overcrowded orphanages in Jakarta, where orphans are fed, but where otherwise they are often left on their own.
If the financial situation permits, Ingrid will open a new house in the future, where up to ten children will be given the chance to have a good life.
Part of the turnover we make from the sales of petrified wood goes to Lestari Sayang Anak. We sincerely hope that more companies will follow our lead. As a private individual you can of course also make a contribution. Small contributions are also greatly appreciated. If you are interested in supporting Ingrid’s work, please contact her. You can of course also “like” the Facebook page of Lestari Sayang Anak.
Lestari Sayang AnakAddress:
Jalan Terogong, no 10 B, rt 0011/ rw 07,
Cilandak Barat, Jakarta, Indonesia
Telephone:
+62 (0)21 75 091 15 (vaste lijn)
+62 (0)81 79 189 727 (Ingrid)
E-mail: lestarisayanganak@gmail.com
Web: www.lestarisayanganak.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lestarisayanganak2/
Bank account:
Account: Yayasan Lestari Sayang Anak,
Accountnumber: 41376501 00001
BIC / Swiftcode: ANZBIDJX