the Pagai Foundation
Macaronis Resort is dedicated to the enhancement and support of the local communities and environment. One of the major issues facing Indonesia is poverty, which is spread across its many islands. The existence of remote island resorts, like Macaronis, are able to offer these communities an enormous amount of support.
Local Community & Sustainable Tourism
The nearest village, Silabu Village, is a Christian Protestant community with approximately 400 indigenous inhabitants located approximately 20km from Sikakap, only connected by walking track that can also be crossed on a motor bike taking about 1.5 hours. The village is mainly traditional due to its remote location. The only reason the villagers have had any contact with the outside world is through Christian missionaries that converted them to Christianity in the early 1900′s, and more recently due to the Mentawai waves and their popularity among visiting surfers.
Our local Village Support
In 2004, as a starting initiative, Macaronis Resort agreed to donate $1.50/guest/night toward Silabu Village Community projects, amounting to approximately a $300 donation per week when the resort was fully booked.
Macaronis Resort also contributed approximately $5,000 toward the completion of Silabu Church in 2004, $2,000 for the purchase of a new generator for the village in 2005, and a further $4,000 was used to provide electricity to each village home in 2006 (providing lighting and a power point to each family home). In addition, Macaronis Resort funded the survey and partial construction of a road from the local village to the resort.
These are just some of the earlier projects undertaken in our infancy years to assist the local community, apart from regular contributions to Christian and Youth groups and donations to the local school. Apart from the financial support we’ve provided, it has been primarily the resort development and day-to-day work opportunities from the operation, either at the resort or supplying it, that have given the most positive impact upon the local community.
In 2011, Macaronis Resort contributed a further $15,000 to Tumalea Village (Northern Village in Silabu, near BatCave) from donations received after the October 2010 tsunami.
Primary school toilets
In 2012, Macaronis Resort launched a project to provide Silabu Village Primary School with a new toilet block and to renovate the village medical center. This project was supported by the WY Hubert Foundation, which donated USD $5000; our guest Ted Scarrett, who donated USD $500; and Rip Curl, which donated Rp. 30.000.000, and Surfing Doctors, donating Rp. 30.000.000, with funds raised from a free trip to Macaronis Resort raffled off at Margaret River and Bells Beach surfing competitions.
Pagai Foundation - Supporting the Mentawai Community Since 2015
Pagai Foundation was established in 2015 by Macaronis Resort with a simple goal: to support the local villages surrounding the resort through healthcare, education, sanitation, and community development initiatives.
Over the years, the foundation has grown into a community-focused organization dedicated to improving the wellbeing of local people while helping protect the unique environment of the Mentawai Islands.
1. Our Medical Program
Building Healthcare Access in the Mentawais
In 2018, Dr. Eghardt Brand joined Pagai Foundation as Medical Director alongside Pak Yon, who served as Foundation Director.
That same year, a dedicated medical clinic was constructed next to Macaronis Resort, funded by the resort and established under the guidance of Dr. Brand and Pak Yon. The clinic became the base for a series of village outreach programs, beginning in Silabu Village and later expanding to other communities throughout the region.
From 2018 until early 2020, volunteer doctors from around the world donated their time and expertise to provide free medical care to remote Mentawai villages. Staying at Macaronis Resort and traveling by boats provided by the resort, these volunteers conducted regular village clinics deep within the Mentawai Islands.
The medical program was supported through generous donations from resort guests, private donors, and medical equipment contributions from hospitals and clinics around the world.
Impact
- More than 1,000 villagers received free medical treatment and medication in 2018.
- More than 1,500 villagers received free medical care in 2019.
- Villages reached included Silabu, Betumonga, Sikakap, Sebeugugung, and many others.
- Dr. Sharron Grainger was among the first volunteer doctors to contribute her services to the Mentawai community.
Cure the Blind
In early 2019, Dr. Brand launched the “Cure the Blind" initiative to help villagers suffering from preventable blindness caused by cataracts.
In November 2019, thirteen villagers received life-changing cataract surgery through a partnership with the Padang Eye Centre in Indonesia. The procedures restored sight and dramatically improved quality of life for those involved.
The Covid-19 Pause
In March 2020, Indonesia closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With international travel suspended and no guests able to visit the resort, Pagai Foundation's medical outreach programs were temporarily placed on hold. Volunteer doctors could no longer enter the country, and village clinics were suspended for nearly two years.
Rebuilding After the Pandemic
In 2023, Pagai Foundation resumed operations and welcomed Hengky, a highly skilled full-time nurse, to the team.
While large-scale village outreach programs were not immediately reinstated, Hengky has continued to provide medical support for resort staff, guests, and members of the local community.
A New Chapter
In June 2025, Dr. Eghardt Brand became Director of Pagai Foundation and appointed Dr. Sharron Grainger as Director of the Medical Division.
At the same time, the foundation expanded its mission by establishing an Environmental Division led by marine biologist Mrs. Hayley Brand.
Medical Division Today
Under the leadership of Dr. Sharron Grainger, the foundation has renewed fundraising efforts to relaunch the cataract surgery program and reconnect with the Padang Eye Centre.
Currently, several residents from Silabu Village are awaiting cataract surgery that could restore their sight.
Funding for this initiative comes from generous guest donations as well as the sale of handmade straw hats in the Macaronis Resort merchandise shop. These hats are purchased directly from a local Silabu village artisan—one of the villagers whose sight was restored through the original cataract program in 2019.
This initiative not only helps fund future surgeries but also creates a sustainable source of income within the local community.
Ongoing Medical Support
Today, Pagai Foundation continues to:
- Provide free medical consultations for local villagers.
- Offer medical assistance to resort guests.
- Support the wider local surfing community.
- Train staff in remote medical procedures, including wound care, reef-cut treatment, sterile suturing, and management of common surfing injuries.
Protecting the Mentawai Environment
2. Environmental Division
Recognising the importance of protecting the natural environment that supports local communities, Pagai Foundation established its Environmental Division in 2025.
Working closely with Bung Hatta University, the foundation has begun coral reef and mangrove rehabilitation projects to help restore ecosystems damaged by the 2010 tsunami and decades of destructive fishing practices.
The loss of coral reefs and mangrove forests has contributed to increased coastal erosion throughout the region. To help protect the shoreline, a retaining wall was constructed in 2024 to prevent further land loss around the resort.
Plastic pollution remains one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the Mentawai Islands. Through regular clean-up events and sustainable resort practices, Pagai Foundation is working to reduce waste and protect the marine environment for future generations.
Guests and members of the local community are encouraged to participate in environmental activities, helping create awareness and build a stronger culture of conservation throughout the islands
Environmental Initiatives
Current projects include:
- Coral reef restoration
- Mangrove rehabilitation
- Beach clean-up programs
- Plastic waste reduction initiatives
- Environmental education and awareness.
Get Involved
If you would like to learn more about Pagai Foundation, make a donation, or find out how you can contribute, please contact Macaronis Resort.