Pulisan Jungle Beach Resort near Manado, North Sulawesi. The alternative to Bunaken Island, and close to Lembeh Strait

Pulisan Jungle Beach Resort is dedicated to generate alternative sources of income in this remote area of the Minahasa Peninsula in the very north-eastern tip of Sulawesi. In a time back under the Suharto government when the villagers were forced to sell off their land, the project gave a new perspective to the locals. The construction which was finished in October 1999 was entirely facilitated by local craftsmen from the villages of Marinsow, Pulisan and Kinunang. The result is a basic, but charming resort which fits itself naturally into the surroundings.

Pulisan Jungle Beach Resort employs local villagers only and educates them to care for their foreign guests.

In its cooking PJBR tries to rely as much as possible on local garden and forest products such as fruit and vegetables, rice, sago, tapioka and batata, village chicken and fish which are supplied by the villagers. This gives our guests a chance to get into the real local cooking and at the same time encourages the locals to develop a self-respect for their way of life.

Enabling the locals to be fishing and forest guides for the guests is also a means to increase self-respect and being proud of their local ways.

Sponsors and children

In summer 2000 some of our guests had the idea to sponsor some village children from the poorest families who are worst hit by the ongoing economical crisis. The idea soon found supporters so that it developed into a small village children's foundation which is managed by the resort and financed by guests. Within this project the resort mediates between sponsor parents and sponsored children and their families.

At present 45 children found sponsor parents. With the help of the programme several children already attend lower secondary school, in July 2005 four boys graduated from a marine vocational school and one girl who had received a scholarship to attend a three years' programme at the Academy of Foreign Languages in Manado graduated in October 2002. In July 2006 three girls received their degrees from a three year program at a tourism school. One girl, the first youth ever from the village of Pulisan, to attend University, is enrolled at a unique program in underwater eco tourism - the first of its kind in Indonesia. One boy attends a school for informatics in Manado. The others are still lower secondary and primary school level.

In this way guests have the opportunity to give something back to an area and its people they became to love so much during their holiday. And the children are inspired to maximise their efforts and also get a much wider perspective of the world as they had before. They are able to socialise with their sponsor parents and exchange letters.

Some guests contributed creative ideas, so they were able even to raise funds back home. In this way funds could be raised to renovate the lower secondary school SLTP Kosgoro Marinsow which is very important for the region as it can be reached on foot. All possible by donations made by guests of the Resort the village of Kinunang received seven units of bathrooms and toilets, the primary school in Pulisan was renovated and provided with furniture, a new community centre built which now hosts a lower secondary school whose two teachers are paid by donations. In Marinsow village the village office could be renovated and turned into a health post. Health personnel comes in once weekly and holds practice. This is paid from donations as was the initial stock of medicine.

In July 2006 guests of Pulisan Jungle Beach Resort registered a foundation, Friends of Lembeh - Pulisan - Bangka which will help to conduct future development programs in environmental education and sustainable agriculture as well fishing methods to prevent further environmental damage in the area.

Please note: This program is limited to Pulisan Jungle Beach Resort guests only!

Pulisan - The Project