Legacy Giving: The Story of Pak Tenu

A while ago we received a message that moved me deeply. It was all I could think about for the next couple of days. And so I wanted to share it with you.

The message was from a woman halfway across the world, telling me the story of her father, Pak Tenu. He had emigrated to the US from Indonesia many, many years ago and had just passed two weeks prior.

While Pak Tenu had built a whole new life for himself and his family in the States, Pak Tenu always remained deeply connected to what he called his Tanah Air Indonesia, his homeland. 

He would tell his children what it was like for him to grow up there – and how he would like to find ways to give back and contribute to the many communities that are still struggling every day. 

As his daughter told me in our many emails, Pak Tenu was deeply involved in championing the causes of women equality, fair education opportunities and upward mobility of the underprivileged and underserved, especially in Indonesia.

And even in his new home, Pak Tenu was deeply involved in his local community – raising awareness for pressing issues like climate change and encouraging the elderly to get more involved with recycling in order to leave the world better for the next generation. 

In short, Pak Tenu was a true changemaker. 

Residents of our fifth craft schools in Flores, Indonesia

So to honor his memory, Pak Tenu’s family decided to make a donation to our work in rural Indonesia. It was their contribution that allowed us to embark on the construction of our fifth craft school in Flores. 

Providing women with the opportunity to receive an education and thrive in her own right. 

The reason Pak Tenu’s story resonated so much with me is that I myself spent some time outside of Indonesia before I decided to come back so I could help make a difference in my home country. 

In fact, the whole journey of starting SukkhaCitta, of going village to village, tracing back the origin of our heritage and culture, felt like a journey home. 

Thank you, Pak Tenu, for all that you have done for others during your 90 years on this planet. For those close by and far away. 

And thank you to your wonderful family for honoring your memory in such a beautiful and meaningful way. 

Always yours,
Denica Riadini-Flesch
Founder & Director