The Nomad is a series of stories, fascinations, encounters, observations, experiences, joy of the moments by me, Ulrike Reinhard – all around my travels. Stay tuned!
I am currently travellng in Sumba, a remote island in eastern Indonesia. It feels like a world apart. Its rugged hills roll into untouched beaches, where wild horses still roam freely and sunsets paint the sky in deep orange hues. Unlike its bustling neighbor Bali, Sumba has preserved a deep sense of tradition – where ancient stone megaliths rise from the earth and rituals passed down through generations still shape daily life. The island’s culture is rooted in community and ceremony, with strong tribal ties and a deep respect for nature. It’s a place where time moves slowly, and the spirit of the land feels very much alive.
When you start searching online about Sumba, one name quickly stands out: the Sumba Hospitality Foundation. This charity is dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism on the island, and its mission immediately caught my attention. Curious to learn more, I reached out – and soon found myself in conversation with the foundation’s founder, Inge De Lathauwer. Our exchange felt unexpectedly familiar. Many of the challenges she’s navigating on Sumba reminded me of those I faced in Janwaar. Her reflections echoed my own experiences. But rather than summarize too much here, I invite you to listen to the podcast. It offers a vivid, firsthand look into Sumba – an island rich in culture and nature, now standing on the cusp of becoming Indonesia’s next big tourist destination.
Listen to the podcast here:
Summary of the podcast:
The Sumba Hospitality Foundation, founded by Inge De Lathauwer from Brussels, Belgium, was born out of a personal journey that began with a vacation to Sumba in 2013. What started as a tourist visit quickly turned into a deep concern about the socio-economic disparity she witnessed: a stunning, culturally rich island with severe poverty and malnutrition, juxtaposed against rapid land acquisitions by wealthy foreigners and Indonesians from Jakarta. This stark contrast sparked her mission to empower local youth through education, especially in the field of hospitality, a sector she believes could bring sustainable and inclusive development to the island.
The Foundation’s core mission is to equip local Sumbanese youth with skills in hospitality, sustainable tourism, and life education so they can actively participate in, and benefit from, the development of their island. However, the initiative faces significant challenges. One of the most critical is the low educational baseline of incoming students, even those who hold high school diplomas. Their academic levels often equate to primary school standards elsewhere, with little to no English skills and minimal practical knowledge, which makes intensive foundational training essential.
Another major challenge is the deeply ingrained tribal culture. Sumba is divided into four distinct tribal regions, often wary of each other, and traditions, such as expensive funerary rituals requiring buffalo sacrifices, often perpetuate poverty and generational debt. Rather than confronting or criticizing these customs, the Foundation adopts a respectful, educational approach—introducing students to alternative perspectives while encouraging them to cherish their heritage and reconsider the economic burden of some traditional practices.
In terms of retention and cultural continuity, the risk of students leaving the island for better job prospects elsewhere, especially in Bali, is real. However, many express a strong desire to return and support their families, particularly if quality job opportunities arise locally. This underlines the importance of developing a local hospitality sector that is inclusive, sustainable, and staffed by trained locals.
Innovatively, the Foundation has developed a comprehensive and immersive one-year boarding school program. Students live on campus full-time and receive intensive training in hospitality, sustainability, English, and life skills, followed by a six-month internship at high-end hotels or restaurants, often outside Sumba. This not only gives them a real-world platform but also reinforces the value of high standards. The recruitment process is rigorous: out of up to 800 applicants annually, only 50 to 60 are selected based on motivation, dreams, and spark—regardless of poverty, which Inge emphasizes is a condition, not an identity.
Financial accessibility is another cornerstone. While 95% of the funding comes from charity, families contribute a symbolic tuition fee—currently 4 million rupiah for 18 months, paid in installments—which is cheaper than standard high school education. Many students work odd jobs in advance to pay this modest amount, and the Foundation provides additional support where needed. Importantly, revenue from the on-site hotel—designed to provide hands-on training—also goes directly back into funding the Foundation.
Architecturally, the Foundation is a model of sustainable design. With a deep appreciation for natural materials and functionality suited to the Sumbanese climate, Inge collaborated with Ibuku, a Bali-based bamboo architecture firm, to create an environment that is both beautiful and ecologically responsible. This setting not only inspires pride among students but also serves as a showcase for visiting developers, demonstrating how tourism infrastructure can be built sustainably using local resources and labor.
The long-term vision is to use the Foundation as a blueprint for sustainable tourism, inspiring both local and international developers to adopt similar ethical and ecological principles. Beyond Sumba, there is growing interest from regions like Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and parts of Africa, who see this as a replicable model for grassroots empowerment through vocational education.
Ultimately, Inge’s vision is both practical and hopeful: a future where tourism in Sumba enriches its people, respects its culture, and preserves its environment. Despite the formidable challenges, the Sumba Hospitality Foundation stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when charity, education, and sustainability intersect with dignity and ambition.
Some impressions from the Foundation’s property:
