Loretta Parshall Scholarship Program
Loretta Parshall was an immigrant to the US. She was opened in Subud in her 60s and remained active in Subud until her passing at the age of 96. During her lifetime, she never had a chance to get an education although she believed very strongly that education was important. In her memory, her son Lucien Parshall started the Loretta Parshall Scholarship Program which has developed into a joint project with the Muhammad Subuh Foundation (MSF), which is keeping the funds for the scholarships, and Susila Dharma International Association (SDIA), which is administering the scholarships. This collaboration is a first in Subud to meet the needs of Subud children at all stages of their learning and allowing for multi-year support.
Scholarships are available to the children or grandchildren of Subud members. There are three levels of financial aid available: early childhood, elementary and secondary, and the Evan Padilla Scholarship for higher education. Scholarships can be used for tuition, school materials such as books or uniforms, or transportation to and from school. The maximum amount for a scholarship each year is $1000. Children under the age of 18 must have the form filled out by an adult caregiver. Students 18-25 may fill out the forms themselves.
To apply for a scholarship, please go to https://susiladharma.org/loretta-parshall-programme/. The application form is available in English, French, and Spanish. The deadline for the first scholarship is June 15, 2026 for schools that start in the fall of 2026. The next deadline is October 15, 2026 for schools starting in January 2027. Online learners may apply for either deadline.
Kingantoko Congo Project
Subud Congo owns a piece of land in Kingantoko, Congo; however, the property could not be developed pending legal issues. Thankfully, the issues are resolved and the project is currently in its initial development stages. The size of the land is over 126 acres (51 hectares). Recently, Vincent Mount, Chair of SDIA, and Executive Director Virginia Thomas along with two International Helpers and the Chairs of SD Canada and Germany traveled to the Congo to work with the Congolese. According to Vincent, “the project is in the very beginning stages with many opportunities for social projects related to food and the environment.” A water supply and electricity, possibly from solar collectors, are priorities. A mission statement for the Kingantoko Project is being formed as well as the legal entities for a foundation.
The Subud group met with the leaders of Kingantoko village to understand the needs of the village. For women, the needs are a good source of water, not only for their homes – currently, they must walk a long way to gather water for their own use – and for agriculture. For the youth, their needs are education and employment possibilities. The boys would also like to have a football field. The goal of SDIA is to build a collaboration so SDIA can serve the needs of the village.
News from Indonesia Storm Relief Funds
In November 2025 a major storm hit Indonesia. The northwest region of Aceh was particularly hard hit. SD Nationals from all over the world, including SDUSA, contributed funds for the relief effort.
Today, the area is still rebuilding and also addressing the needs of the children, who, as the most vulnerable group, are still experiencing trauma. A program was created to meet their needs called “Healing Wounds, Restoring Hope”. A report indicated that “through a compassionate and interactive approach, the program successfully brought back moments of joy, reduced emotional distress, and restored hope” to 500 children.
A 3.5-minute video was made to show the work with the children. It also shows some of the devastation of the storm. The children are simply beautiful to watch. Called Menanti Datang Terand, Waiting for the Light to Return, the video can be reached on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn3XcYyVhfU