Orphans International Worldwide (OIW) starts a project for orphaned children on the Indian border with China. The project includes a new orphanage and school in Bihar, a city with the highest proportion of children, 46%, of any state in India.
by David Stone
for Assorted Ideas, Large & Small/Special to The Roosevelt Island Daily News
About Bihar
Bihar is a state in East India, bordering Nepal. It is the third-largest state by population and the twelfth largest by area. Bihar has a long history and rich cultural heritage. The state can be divided into two distinct regions: the Gangetic Plains in the north and the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the south.
The Gangetic plains are fertile and support a large population. The region is also home to several important Hindu pilgrimage sites, including the birthplace of the god Rama in Ayodhya and the city of Varanasi, known as the “city of temples.”
Bihar has the highest proportion of children, 46%, of any state in India.
Orphans International Free School at Saraswati
“Our project at Saraswati is on the far outskirts of Bodhgaya, a city with a population of 48,000, OIW founder Jim Luce says. “The village across the river from Saraswati has 3,600 villagers. Including two adjacent villages, there are about 8,500 people near our project. Approximately 4,000 children live near our project.”
Two decades ago, Luce, who lives on Roosevelt Island in New York City, quit a high-paying job in the financial sector, using his own resources in launching the now international nonprofit.
“I am an advocate for global orphans. I believe all children have a right to a family, and no child should be denied that right,” Luce says.
Orphaned children often face many challenges in life. They may struggle with emotional issues, and they may have difficulty succeeding in school. Orphans also often have a hard time finding jobs as adults.
“I will have a conversation with the provincial government to deed us land to coordinate volunteers from around the world to build them more sustainable housing. My dad was very involved with Habitat for Humanity and there is a fund in his name.”
A Commitment to Orphaned Children
Earlier this month, a Tibetan film crew came to Roosevelt Island to interview Luce in his Roosevelt Landings home.
Orphans International Worldwide provides orphans with basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. The organization also works to provide orphans with medical care and psychological support. In addition, Orphans International Worldwide advocates for the rights of orphans and works to raise awareness about the plight of orphans around the world.
Luce started OIW after adopting his son, Mathew, from an impoverished orphanage in Indonesia twenty years ago. The place was so poor that he was asked to leave Mathews’s torn T-shirt behind so that another child could use it.
Who is Jim Luce?
Jim Luce is the founder and president of The James Dudley Luce Foundation (JLF) and Orphans International Worldwide (OIW). He is a writer, speaker, philanthropist, and social entrepreneur. Although he travels across the globe, he lives in a modest apartment on Roosevelt Island in New York City.
Ways you can contribute to this cause, include volunteering or donating money to make a difference in an orphan’s life.
There are many ways you can contribute to Orphans International Worldwide’s efforts to help orphans around the world. You can volunteer your time or donate money to the organization. You can also raise awareness about orphan issues by sharing information about Orphans International Worldwide with your friends and family.
For more information, please visit: Orphans International Worldwide
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You Can’t Be All Three
April 9, 2026, during the full board meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, Fay Christian said something that should have landed harder than it did. She wished RIOC were not responsible for the tram. Then she asked what it would look like if it were given to the MTA. That was not a passing comment.
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