I spoke with Robin Lim after she became the CNN Hero of 2011. She used to live in Fairfield. Some of her kids went to school here. KRUU FM’s Dennis Raimondi had interviewed Robin Lim on one of her visits back to her second home of Fairfield, Iowa. You can listen here.
Robin Lim was one of 10 finalists and had just won CNN’s Hero of the Year for all the work she’s been doing over the years in Bali, and in Aceh after the Tsunami hit. She also helped deliver babies being born in Haiti after the earthquake. An American, Robin Lim became a midwife after her sister and niece died from complications during pregnancy. She reevaluated her life and decided what meant most to her, and that was love—giving, nurturing, and saving lives. She became a midwife, went to Bali and opened a free clinic. Since 2003, she and her team in Indonesia have helped thousands of low-income women have a healthy pregnancy and birth. Her philosophy and practice is Gentle Birth for Peace on Earth. Click on the hyperlinked phrases below to see videos and articles.
See the video that introduced 2011 Top 10 CNN Hero Robin Lim at “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.” Heroes Tribute: Robin Lim.
Celebrities joined CNN in honoring everyday people doing extraordinary things who are changing the world in Sunday night’s “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” show. Here are some CNN Heroes highlights: photos: 2011 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute video: CNN honors top Heroes of the year, and overview page with other videos and articles.
This is neat: Watch four days of production building the new CNN Heroes stage compressed into one action-packed minute: Behind the Scenes at CNN Heroes: Building the Stage.
Watch the videos posted in this beautiful CNN Top Ten Hero Profile on Robin Lim Community Crusader.
Anderson Cooper introduces Christy Turlington Burns, global maternal health advocate and founder of Every Mother Counts, who went to see firsthand the work of Robin and her team at Bhumi Sehat in Bali. Christy Turlington Burns introduces 2011 Top 10 CNN Hero Robin Lim at “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.” And Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews top 10 CNN Hero Robin Lim and Christy Turlington Burns at “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.”
Here is the video of Anderson Cooper naming Robin Lim the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year, and her acceptance speech: ‘Mother Robin’ wins CNN Hero of the Year.
Here is a video of CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta backstage at the fifth annual “CNN Heroes” awards: Gupta backstage at ‘Heroes’. His last interview is with CNN Hero of the Year Robin Lim as she walks offstage at 3:07–3:50.
In this exclusive follow-up video, Robin Lim: What’s next?, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to 2011 CNN Hero of the Year Robin Lim. He starts off by asking how women’s lives will be impacted after tonight’s win. Robin says they’re going to build a new clinic and thanks her team and family. After hearing Robin’s passionate description of training midwives to help poor undernourished Balinese women bear their young, Dr. Gupta says: “I just applaud the work that you’re doing for all the world’s children out there.” Robin makes a plea for midwives who deliver peaceful births: “We are the ones who are the guardians of normal birth.”
CNN’s Anderson Cooper interviews 2011 CNN Hero of the Year Robin Lim: What it means to be a hero.
Photographer Palani Mohan describes his visit with top 10 CNN Hero Robin Lim in Portrait of a Hero: Robin Lim.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper joins honorees Patrice Millet, Bruno Serato, Diane Latiker, Sal Dimiceli, 2011 CNN Hero of the Year Robin Lim, Amy Stokes, Eddie Canales, Richard St. Denis, Taryn Davis and Derreck Kayongo.
Some Media Coverage on Robin Lim, CNN Hero Of The Year
CNN: This Just In: Join the conversation: CNN Heroes with a lovely photo of Robin with her mother and husband before her win.(wireimage).
And after, standing with Anderson Cooper, as CNN Hero of the Year.
Here’s an earlier Huffington Post article before the competition: Balinese Natural Birthing Center Threatened by Global Downturn. Recent Huffington Post articles: CNN Hero Of The Year, Robin Lim, Wins $250,000 For Indonesia Birthing Clinic and Christy Turlington Burns: My hero, Ibu Robin Lim. Thanks to Mozilla Firefox and Crowdrise, Christy’s organization is entering a competition, and if her charity raises the most, Mozilla Firefox will contribute $25,000 to Robin’s clinic! Click here to find out how you can get involved. Google is also offering an opportunity for anyone to donate to Support the 2011 CNN Heroes until December 31st.
Some other global coverage: video: FIL-AM NAMED 2011 CNN HERO OF THE YEAR 2011 ROBIN LIM HELPED POOR INDONESIAN WOMEN and article: Fil-Am named 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.
ShowbizTonight@CNNHEROES: Robin Lim: ‘I’m still in shock’ – YouTube (with J.R. Martinez)
The Sacramento Bee: Robin Lim Named 2011 CNN “Hero of the Year” at CNN’s Fifth Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. Please see link for photography from 2011 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute: http://imftp.turner.com/User/ImageListing.aspx?f=s96o.
Jakarta Post: Bali-based US midwife named CNN Hero.
Free Malaysia Today: Bali midwife wins CNN’s Hero of the Year.
Manila Bulletin (Editorial): Midwife of Filipino descent named C.N.N. Hero of the Year
Corriere Della Sera: Una Osterica Fuori Dal Comune.
babble: 2011: Year Of The Midwife!
jezebel: Women’s Health Advocate Wins ‘CNN Hero Of The Year‘.
She Knows’ Parenting: Robin Lim, CNN Hero of the Year, helped improve birth outcomes in Indonesia.
Nigeria Entertainment: ‘Mother Robin’ wins CNN Hero of the Year.
TV by the Numbers: Robin Lim Named 2011 CNN “Hero Of The Year” At CNN’s Fifth Annual ‘CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute’.
PerezHilton: CNN Names Their 2011 Hero Of The Year.
Ricky: Robin Lim named 2011 CNN Hero of the Year.
WCAX.com: Founder of Vt nonprofit named CNN Hero of the Year. Related Story: Barre nonprofit helps babies around the world. And Adventures of Lady D: Ibu Robin is CNN Hero of the Year!
The Daily Sound: CNN Hero of the Year Robin Lim speaks in Montecito.
And hundreds more from around the world all over the internet.
For more information on Robin Lim check her Wikipedia page and a volunteer website for Robin Lim that contains valuable info on her life and work. And more information on Bumi Sehat Foundation International www.bumisehatbali.org and www.youtube.com/bumisehatfoundation. You can also see a local TED Talk by Robin recorded May 6, 2011 at Gaya Fusion TEDxUbud – Robin Lim – Peace Begins at Birth. And this NBC Nightly News profile Changing lives at birth Nov 19, 2011.
November 2012 update: Robin Lim Day — CNN Hero Returns to Fairfield, Iowa for a Hometown Hero’s Welcome and CNN Hero Robin Lim visiting Fairfield