Le Geste d´Amour was created on October 17, 2007 after a visit to the area most affected by the December 26, 2004 tsunami.
The day after this disaster, Tai Chi class students expressed their feelings of helplessness in the face of this event. Many wanted to help but didn't know how. After 3 days of discussion we decided to take action.
I also remembered a conversation I had with my mother where I promised to do something for the children of Sumatra, something that was very close to her heart.
My mother was born in Sumatra. One day she told me that when we, her children, are grown up and independent, she would like to help the children of Sumatra who are in need. In the meantime she fell seriously ill and could no longer take care of such a project. So I promised to do it for her.
The 2004 tsunami was the opportunity for me to put into action the promise made to my mother.
With the help of the Rotary Club International de Bagnols sur Cèze we were able to find the godparents and donors to set up our humanitarian NGO "Le Geste d 'Amour". We have organized various events: lottery, dinner dance, Christmas gift wrapping, garage sales.
We went on our own to North Sumatra in February 2006, which was the worst hit area in the tsunami. After a very moving week during which we visited several associations and the tent camps of the victims of the tsunami who lived in a very difficult situation, we decided to set up an orphanage.
Between 2007 and 2009 “Le Geste d´Amour” funded the construction of an orphanage on the shores of Lake Toba. The works were managed by Hyun Millet (LGD treasurer) who remained on site for 15 months as well as by Ganda Nainggolan (manager of Sitinoraiti).
In February 2009 we were ready to inaugurate the Lembaga Panti Asuhan Institute ‘SITINORAITI’. We gave it my mother's name which means: The Light of the Heart in Indonesian language.
In September 2009 the first seven children came to live in the SITINORAITI house.