Obituary - Mrs Mizue and Mr Pepe Hara

June 2010 - It is with the profound sorrow that we report the tragic death of Mrs Mizue Hara our long standing and dedicated Executive Chairman and her husband Pepe, our honorary photographer and a loyal supporter.  They died June 17th in their home in Bintaro, Jakarta.

Mizue interacting some of the many students she helped graduate

Mizue dedicated herself selflessly to Goodwill International's mission and her efforts  enable literally hundreds of young students complete their studies.  She made a real difference. She was affectionately referred to as "Mother" by many of those who came to know her and Pepe and learn from her example of discipline, devotion to duty and compassion.  She worked tirelessly for the Yayasan, most recently interviewing more than 70 applicants and them matching and finding sponsors for many of them.  And wherever Mizue was leading, Pepe would be in the background, quietly supportive of his wife's efforts,  usually snapping happily away with his camera.

Mizue and Pepe were  24 years in Indonesia. After working for a bank and a law firm, in 1977 Mizue moved to Houston, where she took up volunteer work, mostly with parent-teacher groups at an American public school, the local Japanese school; and with the Girl Scouts. She moved to Jakarta in 1986, soon co-chairing the Japanese Division at Ganesha Volunteers, and of which she  was appointed chairman in 1995, when she over-saw a restructuring into its present existence as the Indonesian Heritage Society. She co-wrote and published the National Museum guidebook in English and Japanese.  In 1998, she was appointed chairman of the Women's Division of the Jakarta Japan Club, and in 2001 chairperson of the International Community Activity Center (ICAC), leading its Board of Directors through a restructuring which led to the formation of  Yayasan Goodwill International International.

The Founders, Officials, Sponsors, Supporters, Alumni and Scholarship recipients are profoundly saddened by this terrible loss and pass their condolences to the Hara family.

Mrs Hara's last message to us as the Chairman

The Chinese character for "person" is a pictograph of two people are leaning against each other, showing that the people who created this word in the dawn of history thought that human-beings could stand when supporting each other -- "trust."  "Trust " is the most valuable element in our lives.

For our students, it is vital they develop trust between themselves and their sponsor, between them and the Yayasan, and among and for themselves. 

We should remember that trust is very fragile, and it may be broken easily if one does some little thing wrong.  No matter how hard one tries afterwards, one may never fully regain that person's trust. 

Over the last five years, I believe that the Goodwill International Scholarship students have established relationships built on high levels of trust with their sponsors.  It is my hope that all our students again continue their hard work, and preserve Yayasan Goodwill International's tradition and reputation. 

There are many incredible challenges and obstacles lying everywhere in life, but since our students have overcome one of the biggest challenges already in being accepted to a university and winning a scholarship, I feel sure they can tackle all the others that will arise with equal energy, determination and confidence.