Fun, friendship and loads of work at the city's WIC
Fun, friendship and loads of work at the city's WIC
"Despite the state of the world, we have proved that women of
many countries can work together in harmony," says a member of
the Women's International Club Jakarta. In conjunction with
International Women's Day on March 8, The Jakarta Post takes a
look at the Jakarta-based club, which celebrates its 46th year on
March 13.
JAKARTA (JP): The Women's International Club Jakarta is most
popular for its annual bazaar. Last year's shopping frenzy raised
over Rp 762.4 million (US$340,000) for several social
institutions.
"But it's so much more than that," says Vida Rignault, a
Venezuelan and a Jakarta resident of seven years.
The club was set up in 1950 by four friends, including
parliamentarian Suwarni Pringgodigdo and Lady Kermode, the wife
of the then British ambassador.
Club president, businesswoman Poppy Kahar, said Suwarni
realized the need for an informal forum when she saw that women
at diplomatic functions would stick together with those from
their own countries, yet exchange curious glances at women in
other groups.
The women wanted to mingle, it seemed, and were tired of all
the talk about politics following the end of World War II. But
language and uncertainties about protocol blocked the way.
"The Indonesians could only speak Dutch," said Poppy.
Now the club, known as WIC, has grown from 10 members to 700
members from 59 countries.
Forty-six years later, WIC Jakarta is still a forum where
Indonesian and expatriate women can meet each other and be
friends, through shared interests and social work.
Without the club, women from diplomatic and non-diplomatic
circles would probably still be living in separate clusters.
"When I first read of the club here, the word 'international'
just leapt out at me," said Rignault, whose husband works as an
oil drilling contractor.
"The words WIC were in a (newspaper) photo caption of a
Balinese dancer...I was hungry for the culture here," said
Rignault, now WIC's Vice-President.
She could have joined another club, but she joined WIC and
found friends through square dancing and janur (young coconut
leaf) weaving.
The club is unique for many other reasons. Outside Indonesia,
members say it is hard to find international clubs. They
attribute the WIC to the openness of Indonesians.
It is where foreign women can easily be friends with
Indonesian women, says Gopi Panjabi of India.
Olive Shelton of Jamaica says WIC helps foreigners adapt
relatively quickly to Jakarta.
"Many foreigners are not used to living with other people,"
said Shelton, "but many join because they're tired of mixing with
their own kind, eating the same food, sharing the same old
jokes."
Both Panjabi and Shelton say they also joined because of the
club's social welfare activities.
"When you're in a foreign country, you want to give something
back," says Shelton. "The only way you can do that is be with the
underprivileged."
Membership is now 60 percent Indonesian and 40 percent
foreign.
The WIC is special, members say, because personal ties are not
based on status.
"It's different from organizations where respect is based on
your husband's position," said Poppy.
She does regret that many women do join to seek status.
Most important perhaps, is that the club provides time for a
woman to be herself.
Rignault urges housewives to join by asking them: "What will
you reply when people ask, 'Oh, what did you do in Indonesia?' I
cleaned the house?"
Come on, she says, you might not get all the household help
you get here when you go back home. (anr)