Working with NGOs can be rewarding

JAKARTA (JP): Rita Serena Kalibonso, a lawyer at the Jakarta chapter of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH):

It's nice to work with people who have the same vision. We work for the public interest. I am part of the public, so, in this case, I can say that I also work on my interest. I like working in a NGO like LBH because of the democratic atmosphere. Things must be different in government offices. LBH is non- commercial, what we are doing is a kind of social work, and there is no fierce competition at work like in many other places.

It's good that we can build our career through LBH. We don't make much money but we can be rich with experiences. LBH can be a stepping stone toward another place because the invaluable experiences will surely enable us to build our career as a lawyer. In other words, working with LBH is a kind of learning process. I have been here for over eight years. One day, there will be a time when I have to quit because LBH always give the opportunities for the younger people to work here and to seek experiences in the legal fields.

LBH offers international experiences as well because LBH cooperates with many international organizations. I am also a member of the Kuala Lumpur-based Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development. Working with LBH, I had the opportunity to join a session on human rights in Sweden and attended some international events overseas.

Things are not always pleasant. What made me sad is the fact that LBH lost in the handling of many cases, such as those on land and labor. The judges often turned down our arguments even though we are sure that they were supported by people. This is maybe because we are called the "opponents", but I think that is not the main reason. They did not accept our arguments because the current legal system is not in line with justice-for-all principles.

Bimo, activist of a Jakarta-based NGO dealing with human rights:

I have been involved in the world of NGOs since my student years in Satya Wacana University, Salatiga.

The name of the NGO was Geni Foundation which aimed to educate children and to help people with their legal problems. It was was previously a study group of students of Satya Wacana. Later it developed into a NGO because its members wanted to be involved with society which would be a problem if it was still a study group managed under the university. Becoming a NGO was the best choice because it doesn't know bureaucracy.

Working for a NGO suits me very well because its different pattern of working. If you work for at a normal office, there is strict working hours and target. In my NGO, there is target but no set working hours. It's flexible so that it's not boring.

By working in NGO, you can make friends, know more things and also collect many enemies. But that's what makes life interesting. No monotony.

For students it's important to be involved in a NGO. Students usually know only theories, through NGOs they can see the reality.

Members are required to sacrifice their time too. When I was a student besides studying I had to work for Geni. Sometimes it's difficult, especially because my parents sent me there to study not to be involved in this kind of thing. However, my parents support me.

As for money, Geni is non-profit organization. Often, we are required to give our own money. But, it was not the problem, I do enjoy working for NGO and don't mind giving my own money.

Dhanie M, 24, a philosophy student, founder of Yatriwi or Tribuana Tunggadewi Foundation, a NGO dealing with women and child related violence.

My interest in NGOs started when I met Arief Budiman back in my junior high school days during a discussion at the Taman Ismail Marzuki. I had previously read some articles of his and I was really excited to at last meet him. I admired him because of his lifelong commitment to one cause.

I first joined a long-established woman-oriented NGO after I enrolled at a Jakarta journalism college. But I left the group when I saw its growing tendency towards bureaucratization. Then two friends and I founded Yatriwi with our own money. Thus far, we have received no funds from donor agencies.

My parents -- my father is a custom and excise official -- do not take issue with my NGO activities.

I am still financially dependent on my parents. I know that I cannot expect to earn a lot of money from NGOs. It's true that some NGO activists can in fact make a lot of money by cheating, but they have recanted their idealism in the process.

To me, money is not everything. Some friends have urged me to join them in business but I have rejected the offers. I am more interested in such issues like injustice and inequality.

Umam, 27, member of a Jakarta advocacy group called Kajian 164:

Our group's members comprise alumni of the NU-run pesantren (Islamic traditional school). Five of us founded the group back in 1992. We first dealt with religious issues and held many discussions in many pesantren throughout Java where we campaigned for kyai (Islamic religious leaders) to stay away from politics.

Starting from 1993 we turned our attention to socio-political affairs, including street children. We have masterminded many student protests. Our study group serves more as "material providers". We round up students, hold discussions with them on socio-political affairs. After each discussion we go into action -- staging demonstrations.

This month alone we staged two demonstrations, one at the House of Representatives over the discussion-licensing policy, and another one at the National Commission on Human Rights where we demanded the laws inherited from the Dutch be revoked.

The intelligence service is on to me so I keep changing my names.

As for the money, there is no problem because all of us have permanent jobs. Our NGO activities are done in our spare time. (sim/als/jsk/raw)