Working with NGOs can be rewarding<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Rita Serena Kalibonso, a lawyer at the Jakarta
\nchapter of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH):<\/p>\n
It's nice to work with people who have the same vision. We
\nwork for the public interest. I am part of the public, so, in
\nthis case, I can say that I also work on my interest. I like
\nworking in a NGO like LBH because of the democratic atmosphere.
\nThings must be different in government offices. LBH is non-
\ncommercial, what we are doing is a kind of social work, and there
\nis no fierce competition at work like in many other places.<\/p>\n
It's good that we can build our career through LBH. We don't
\nmake much money but we can be rich with experiences. LBH can be a
\nstepping stone toward another place because the invaluable
\nexperiences will surely enable us to build our career as a
\nlawyer. In other words, working with LBH is a kind of learning
\nprocess. I have been here for over eight years. One day, there
\nwill be a time when I have to quit because LBH always give the
\nopportunities for the younger people to work here and to seek
\nexperiences in the legal fields.<\/p>\n
LBH offers international experiences as well because LBH
\ncooperates with many international organizations. I am also a
\nmember of the Kuala Lumpur-based Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law
\nand Development. Working with LBH, I had the opportunity to join
\na session on human rights in Sweden and attended some
\ninternational events overseas.<\/p>\n
Things are not always pleasant. What made me sad is the fact
\nthat LBH lost in the handling of many cases, such as those on
\nland and labor. The judges often turned down our arguments even
\nthough we are sure that they were supported by people. This is
\nmaybe because we are called the \"opponents\", but I think that is
\nnot the main reason. They did not accept our arguments because
\nthe current legal system is not in line with justice-for-all
\nprinciples.<\/p>\n
Bimo, activist of a Jakarta-based NGO dealing with human
\nrights:<\/p>\n
I have been involved in the world of NGOs since my student
\nyears in Satya Wacana University, Salatiga.<\/p>\n
The name of the NGO was Geni Foundation which aimed to educate
\nchildren and to help people with their legal problems. It was
\nwas previously a study group of students of Satya Wacana. Later
\nit developed into a NGO because its members wanted to be involved
\nwith society which would be a problem if it was still a study
\ngroup managed under the university. Becoming a NGO was the best
\nchoice because it doesn't know bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Working for a NGO suits me very well because its different
\npattern of working. If you work for at a normal office, there is
\nstrict working hours and target. In my NGO, there is target but
\nno set working hours. It's flexible so that it's not boring.<\/p>\n
By working in NGO, you can make friends, know more things and
\nalso collect many enemies. But that's what makes life
\ninteresting. No monotony.<\/p>\n
For students it's important to be involved in a NGO. Students
\nusually know only theories, through NGOs they can see the
\nreality.<\/p>\n
Members are required to sacrifice their time too. When I was a
\nstudent besides studying I had to work for Geni. Sometimes it's
\ndifficult, especially because my parents sent me there to study
\nnot to be involved in this kind of thing. However, my parents
\nsupport me.<\/p>\n
As for money, Geni is non-profit organization. Often, we are
\nrequired to give our own money. But, it was not the problem, I do
\nenjoy working for NGO and don't mind giving my own money.<\/p>\n
Dhanie M, 24, a philosophy student, founder of Yatriwi or
\nTribuana Tunggadewi Foundation, a NGO dealing with women and
\nchild related violence.<\/p>\n
My interest in NGOs started when I met Arief Budiman back in
\nmy junior high school days during a discussion at the Taman
\nIsmail Marzuki. I had previously read some articles of his and I
\nwas really excited to at last meet him. I admired him because of
\nhis lifelong commitment to one cause.<\/p>\n
I first joined a long-established woman-oriented NGO after I
\nenrolled at a Jakarta journalism college. But I left the group
\nwhen I saw its growing tendency towards bureaucratization. Then
\ntwo friends and I founded Yatriwi with our own money. Thus far,
\nwe have received no funds from donor agencies.<\/p>\n
My parents -- my father is a custom and excise official -- do
\nnot take issue with my NGO activities.<\/p>\n
I am still financially dependent on my parents. I know that I
\ncannot expect to earn a lot of money from NGOs. It's true that
\nsome NGO activists can in fact make a lot of money by cheating,
\nbut they have recanted their idealism in the process.<\/p>\n
To me, money is not everything. Some friends have urged me to
\njoin them in business but I have rejected the offers. I am more
\ninterested in such issues like injustice and inequality.<\/p>\n
Umam, 27, member of a Jakarta advocacy group called Kajian
\n164:<\/p>\n
Our group's members comprise alumni of the NU-run pesantren
\n(Islamic traditional school). Five of us founded the group back
\nin 1992. We first dealt with religious issues and held many
\ndiscussions in many pesantren throughout Java where we campaigned
\nfor kyai (Islamic religious leaders) to stay away from politics.<\/p>\n
Starting from 1993 we turned our attention to socio-political
\naffairs, including street children. We have masterminded many
\nstudent protests. Our study group serves more as \"material
\nproviders\". We round up students, hold discussions with them on
\nsocio-political affairs. After each discussion we go into action
\n-- staging demonstrations.<\/p>\n
This month alone we staged two demonstrations, one at the
\nHouse of Representatives over the discussion-licensing policy,
\nand another one at the National Commission on Human Rights where
\nwe demanded the laws inherited from the Dutch be revoked.<\/p>\n
The intelligence service is on to me so I keep changing my
\nnames.<\/p>\n
As for the money, there is no problem because all of us have
\npermanent jobs. Our NGO activities are done in our spare time.
\n(sim\/als\/jsk\/raw)<\/p>",
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