Agrawitaka tends to nature, social issues

Agrawitaka tends to nature, social issues

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Files and photographs are piled up on racks. Trophies sit in a
wooden cupboard while framed certificates hang on the walls. A
computer is placed on a low table.

The 3 x 5 square meter room looks too small to accommodate all
these documents and office equipment.

This is the "headquarters" of Agrawitaka -- an organization of
students at Prof. Dr. Moestopo University (UPDM) who are into the
environment and conservation.

Established in 1986, Agrawitaka is known as a student
organization focusing on social and humanitarian activities.

A team of Agrawitaka members were among the first people to
arrive in Aceh after the devastating tsunami struck the province
on Dec. 26.

They arrived on Dec. 29 and spent three weeks in Aceh helping
the survivors and clearing away the wreckage. A second team of
nine members arrived in Aceh on Dec. 31.

Agrawitaka members also take part in search and rescue (SAR)
operations to help people who go missing in the mountains or in
rivers.

All of these activities are possible because Agrawitaka
members go through intensive training.

"We try to improve the capability of our members through
regular training and exercise. At least once every two months we
arrange training activities," Andri Akbar Hidayat, chairman of
Agrawitaka, told The Jakarta Post.

In the early years, the members focused on activities like
trekking, forest conservation and rock climbing, later expanding
their activities to include cave explorations.

According to Andri, the organization works to improve the
capabilities of its members through education and training. The
members also get basic photography, sailing and diving skills.

Basic photography is important for the students when they
identify flora or fauna during their field activities.

"We usually cooperate with senior instructors from other
organizations like Wanadri or Mapala UI," he said, referring to
organizations from the Bandung Institute of Technology and the
University of Indonesia.

Among the social activities Agrawitaka has taken part in are a
bicycle trip through Java, Bali and Lombok to disseminate
information about HIV/AIDS in 1999, a similar campaign in
Sulawesi in 2001, rock climbing in Trenggalek, East Java,
spelunking in Pacitan, East Java, in 2001 and blood donation
drives.

Siti Rhanty Widiastuti, Agrawitaka's treasurer and public
relations manager, said senior members of the organization were
often invited to train activists at other colleges.

Of course, this is recognition from other institutions.

Agrawitaka has 156 permanent members. Generally, students have
to go through a series of steps to get permanent membership. The
process -- including interview and field trip -- takes about one
year.

"Every year, there are about 30 students who apply for
membership, but only about five students can make it," said
Rhanty, who will graduate this year.

One of the few students who earned permanent membership is
Tisa Sasnida. After joining the organization in 2002, Tisa is one
of the members who was sent to Aceh to help the survivors of the
tsunami.

"I get a lot of knowledge from this organization. It is not
only about fun things, but we also learn about safety
procedures," she said.

Through all of its activities, Agrawitaka has been able to
accomplish its vision, namely to become an environmental
organization that has credibility and the ability to help the
environment and the country.