Working with NGOs can be rewarding

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)