Die Bruecke builds a bridge between locals, expatriates

Die Bruecke builds a bridge between locals, expatriates

Christina Schott, Contributor, Jakarta

Somewhere hidden in the labyrinth of bumpy streets of Pondok Gede
in South Jakarta, the Modern Diakonian Campus (KDM) offers a home
and school for street children.

Every arriving guest is politely greeted with a handshake by
the children. The well organized grounds look perfectly clean and
tidy. The kitchen in particular is spick-and-span.

The latter is due to the efforts of Christina Reger, a German
nutritionist who is a member of the German speaking women's
association called Die Bruecke (the bridge).

"When I first visited KDM, they still had a lot of problems
with hygiene. Since I knew how to deal with it, I thought it's a
good cause and I should share it with them. We not only raised
the standard of hygiene to a satisfactory level, but also
developed menu plans to fulfill all the nutritional needs of the
children," she said.

As some of the photographs show, there are a couple of other
achievements that KDM owes to Bruecke-members. "These women are
very good, they don't send only money, but also personally look
after the children," says Fali Lumy, director of the street
children's project.

The story of the women's organization started in early 1979,
as the first issue of the magazine Die Bruecke tells: "Once upon
a time, there were four women who decided, that they cannot go on
like this. Why don't we gather to support each other, to do
something together."

So they held their first meeting at the Sari Pan Pacific, 70
women turned up and Die Bruecke was born.

In the meanwhile, Die Bruecke has become an anchor for
Jakarta's German-speaking community. Many women who plan to move
to Jakarta know about it before they even get to Indonesia.

"Die Bruecke is something like the first refuge for German-
speaking women who follow their husbands to Jakarta but are not
allowed to work," says Ilona Leschke, speaker for the Bruecke
magazine.

"It is an opportunity to meet people in the same situation, to
find a convenient outlet for the time here as well as to have fun
together," adds Edith Krist, speaker of the event organizing
committee.

Besides women from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the
organization also has a couple of Indonesian members, mainly
women who are married to German-speaking husbands like the vice-
chairwoman Tiet Rischka-Soerdijo.

"I have lived for such a long time in Stuttgart, that I feel
that I have already become a Swabian (region in Southwest
Germany)," the relative of Yogyakarta's Sultan Hamengkubuwono
said.

The association is professionally organized into several
committees responsible for different fields like social work,
event organizing, editing, counseling newcomers and fund-raising.

Their activities range from excursions and lectures about
Indonesia and yoga courses to films and fashion shows. The
highlights of the year usually are the charity ball and the
Christmas bazaar that help to finance the 18 social projects
supported by Die Bruecke; mainly institutions and organizations
that help poor or disabled children to improve their education
and health care.

Many of the foreign women face a rather tough time, when they
first move to Jakarta. Used to full-time jobs and independence,
they fall into a deep mental hole, instead of enjoying the sudden
luxury of having time for themselves -- having even the housework
done by domestic servants.

"One way to not lose touch with reality, is to work in one of
our social projects," says Renate Icke, who is active in the
social committee. "As an educationist, this volunteer engagement
for a good cause helps me as well to touch base with my actual
profession."

One of these projects is the KDM. As with every institution
supported by Die Bruecke, the street children's home has one or
two responsible spokeswomen who regularly check the use of the
donations and often commit themselves to the respective projects
in one or another.

While Christina Reger looks after the kitchen and takes cares
of hygiene, Marlene Zinnecker, a teacher at the German
International School in Jakarta, wants to support a job training
for the elder children.

Zinnecker, who came to Jakarta in 2003, was secretary of Die
Bruecke for the first two years. "But then I wanted more than
only administrating all the social projects, I wanted to see them
myself and get actively involved," she said.

As a charitable organization, Die Bruecke was founded with the
aim to build a bridge between two different cultures and to
impart knowledge and understanding to newcomers to Jakarta. With
their strong commitment and their many social activities, the
actual members have multiplied the aim in a way, something
probably none of the women 26 years ago would have considered
possible.

"The commitment of these women is admirable. I really enjoy
working together in this group," says Ernestine Krohn, speaker of
the social committee.

Info: http://die-bruecke-jakarta.org