By joining this project, the participants will:
1. Be sponsored (travel and meal during project) to participate in a four-day training in Semarang, Indonesia with other participants.
2. Learn some skills.
3. Share and discuss an in depth understanding of how to manage a project as a Camp Leader.

Requirements:
The project “Training for Camp Leader 2018” is looking for participants who:
1. Are youth or youth workers over 18 years old.
2. Have experienced in voluntary activity
3. Have efficient in English, both speaking and writing
4. Be able to lead work camp(s) in 2019 session
5. Creative, fun and willing to learn from others
6. Have an interest in multi-culture exchange
7. Be open-minded to new experience
8. Have ability to work in a multi-cultured group

Submission Requirements (to be supplied in English):
1. Application form here
2. Curriculum Vitae

Deadline
The deadline for the online submission of application materials for the program is November 1st, 2018 to this following email address: pr.iiwc@pkbi.or.id
Application summited via email is compulsory to have their title in the following format:
[Training for Camp Leader 2018 Application]_FULL NAME

More Information
Please also visit the following links for more information of the program:
• IIWC of PKBI website: www.iiwp-pkbi.org
• Instagram: iiwc_indonesia
• Facebook page: www.facebook.com/IIWCofPKBI
Specific questions regarding the application process may be addressed via email to the following address: pr.iiwc@pkbi.or.id

My name is Emilia Vartiainen and I`m from Finland. My dream of volunteering abroad came true this summer 2017 in Indonesia. I volunteered for six weeks. I volunteered because I wanted to have a cultural exchange in a developing country, make a change for better, learn languages, learn about their culture and religion, live the local life and be part of their community.

The organisation Fatimah Azzahrah is making products of fish and selling them and also helping kids, women and elder people. I had a chance to do a lot of things and the local volunteer Rahmat Riyadi made things a lot easier and more efficient since he speaks both Indonesia and English. We had a English class for children two times a week, a self confidence and Finnish folkdance class for children, school visits, seminar of women empowerment and discussion, feeding the elder day and selling Fatimah Azzahrah`s products.

The self confidence class was held because sometimes the kids in a poor area face disrespect from the society. The idea is to make those kids feel important and boost their self confidence. In school visits we wanted to empower students to dream big and go after their dreams via cultural exchange and assignments. For example we told and showed some photos of women in Finland working as a police, judge, nurse, politician, CEO… and also combining work and family. With younger children playing games and having fun was in a bigger role in school visits.

You can also be creative with the activities. For example I made a song in English that would encourage the children to brush their teeths two times a day. We also had a theme against bullying where we talked and told bullying is not okay for example through theater with toys. Seeing kids learning and enjoying the time spent together is amazing. 

I was also amazed to get to know the woman called Ibu Nuraeni. She is so inspirational and the person behind the Fatimah Azzahrah. Volunteering gave me so much and I had to step out of my comfort zone so many times that it was impossible to avoid growing up as a person. Volunteering in this project was everything I ever hoped for and so much more. I recommend this project very much!

My name is Mara Melão, I’m a 24 year old student living in Lisbon, Portugal and I’m a volunteer in the Street Literacy Camp! This was my first time as an international volunteer and experienced this many cultural contrasts, and the first time I realized how many children live with so little access to education.
The street literacy has as main goal to provide books and access to knowledge to marginalized kids while playing in the streets, raising kids dream through the boundaries, as well as provide a cultural exchange between the community and the volunteers.

They are known as the “Anak Pasar”, which means children of the market because they live and spend the biggest part of their days rambling around the market. Every day in the afternoon we gather the kids from there and take them to gardens or other public spaces and make a library in the middle of the street, read to them in English, play some Math games, we dance and sing, and enjoy to the fullest all of those moments we spent together.
We also visit different schools of the community with the same aim of a cultural exchange and raising kids dream, encourage them to think outside the box, to absorb all the knowledge and information through all means they can: Knowledge is power!

We bound trough the culture, the knowledge, the laughs and the love we share with each other. We did never find the language as an insurmountable barrier, we always understand each other through our actions and this great relationship we establish between us.

TCL is the chance to everyone who want to commit and lead International work camp in IIWC of PKBI for two weeks. Everyone can be the Camp leader with some recruitments that IIWC of PKBI made.  This summer season there were 25 candidates already register but only 10 applicants who qualified to join the training.

This training contains introduction about IIWC of PKBI as IVS and the whole frame work about the organization and projects, MEFC (Motivation, Expectation, Fear, contribution) Lecturing, games, conflict management, pre, during and post work camp system.

First day of training participant get introduced to International voluntary service (IVS) and IIWC of PKBI organization as the first session. During the session, the trainee very enthusiastic to ask about IIWC of PKBI. The training also gives to the participant about how to deals with the people who comes from different culture, language, mindset and habits.  After that the trainee were divided into 2 groups they were asked to play games. Play in harmony was one of the favorite of the game because the trainee could learn how to unite in diversity of the voice that they produce. Most of the activity of the Training was actually reflection for the real work camp that the trainee will conduct.

The next day the trainee present the result of the survey that they did. The first group Ninia, Ningsih and Ulin present about the action that they gonna do is “Welcoming Holy Ramadhan” to welcoming Ramadhan months. They will clean the Musholla to make locals feels comfort when pray. They will start to clean it by themselves later they hope people will help. They already ask permissions for tomorrow from local chief and local helper. And the other group Ridjal, Febri and Nanda present about “Having Fun With Rubbish” Many rubbish around settlement and people didn’t care about it. The target is children aged 5-8 y.o maybe collect 10 children starts at 2pm – 5pm. The aim is for increasing awareness and so on. They will make competition about collecting rubbish, they will be given trash bag and the winner is who can collect the fastest. They expect clean environment about this.

Cultural night performance by the trainee and host family

The entire training was wonderful since beginning for the trainee. They also thank full to the trainer that they got a lot of useful information as their preparation to lead the International Work camp in IIWC of PKBI.

Written by Muhammad Juwaini

            Volunteerism, as a form of civic participation, can be a powerful mechanism for giving youth a voice in decision making and promoting social inclusion in environmental governance within the globalization era. Globalization became a fashionable catchword beginning in the late 1980s. Today, one can hardly imagine the term not being an integral part of the vocabulary of the many politicians stressing the need to eliminate regulations to make national industries more competitive, or favoring the protection of national cultures, environments and economies from global assault. It can be said that globalization is the process by which all peoples and communities come to experience an increasingly common economic, social and cultural environment. By definition, the process affects everybody throughout the world, especially in environmental development.

            In January 2016, IIWC had been organizing Workcamp program in Mangkang for two weeks as an effort in environmental governance for sustainable development globally. There are eight volunteers apllied to join on workcamp. Three volunteers came from Japan ; Ryoji. Takashi, Tomoka. Then, Vico from French, Sara from Italy and the last Serisa from Magelang, Indonesia. They helped by campleader during workcamp named Yoga from Magelang. Amazingly, all of them are still young. This indicates that today’s teens or youth are still interested in volunteer activities in environmental governance. It sounds good, because volunteerism is one of the way enhancing youth engagement concerning environmental governance.

            In Mangkang Workcamp especially, the volunteers were dealing with mangrove planting program. As the main program, The existence of mangrove planting program will be able to raise awareness and thoughtfulness toward the marine environment. Mangrove also brought down the abration, reforested seashore area and fixing fish habitat around the seashore. Within 3000 mangrove seeds provide by IIWC, the volunteers were leaving by boat together with some local partner. They stuck with amazement and admiration when arrived to the mangrove planting area. Although there are some problem during planting process dealing with restrictiveness of planting area and raising the sea level, overall they enjoyed the mangrove planting program.

            Another programs in Mangkang Workcamp is garbage management. Indirectly, it would enhance civic awareness to recycle garbage. In garbage management, people exploited garbage to be used as handicrafts. So, it can reduce the amount of garbage. The volunteers here, actually act as a picture to guide local communities in order to enhance the awareness in garbage governance. As we know, garbage management is important because improperly stored refuse can cause health, safety and economic problems. All living organisms create garbage, but humans create far more garbage than other species. To prevent damaging the earth’s ecosystems and maintain a high quality of life for the planet’s inhabitants, humans must manage and store their garbage efficiently and safely.

            Substantively, In Mangkang workcamp there are many programs, not only in environmental issue but also educational and social such as, school visit, socialization and fund raising. All of the volunteers who incidentally was young looked like enjoy their program during workcamp. To have a future we all need and want – inclusive action is needed by, for and with young people. Young people need to be provided opportunities to use their energy and commitment as catalysts and change makers for a sustainable and equitable society. Volunteerism offers one of the best modes of enabling this shift for young people. As a result, If properly mobilized and guided, young people could indeed provide a powerful resource that can catapult the world towards the much needed sustainable path of development.

Written by Muhammad Juwaini

            Volunteer is a person who performs a service or task willingly and without pay. So, not many people do want to be a volunteer. Whereas, by doing volunteerism, it will improve awareness in environmental, cultural, educational and world peace. They also learn to hold the responsibility. For the organization, volunteers can be a major asset. By contributing time, energy and talents, volunteers can generate enthusiasm, provide new skills, increase community engagement, serve as bridges to target populations, augment fundraising efforts. IIWC (Indonesia International Workcamp) as a non-profit non- governmental Organization that organizes various international voluntary services continue to execute volunteerism program based on the framework of strengthening the values and spirit of volunteerism.

            In August 2016, IIWC were welcoming three foreign volunteers from Japan. They are Takahashi Sana, Kimura Toshiya and Oguni Takaaki. A local volunteer named Nafisa Syahida Rahmadini from Sultan Agung Islamic University also join on. During the program, they helped by two camp leader from IIWC, Faisal and Ryan. Fortunately, they placed in Mangkang Work Camp, so they have main program related to marine environment, it is mangrove planting. Another programs ; urban farming, school visit, university visit, cross cultural understanding and fund rising. These programs in line with IIWC’s purposes related to the environmental, cultural, educational and world peace. They must be responsible toward the programs that have been planned above, not only individually but also as teamwork. That’s why, IIWC is always emphasizing the important of teamwork during workcamp.

            In the first day, all volunteers got the orientation presented by IIWC staff.  The staff explained about IIWC of PKBI and general of the project. To minimalize a cultural shock, the staff also told about Indonesian culture. Therefore, foreign volunteers that join on workcamp will easy to understand dealing with their new land. Question and answer session during orientation was interesting moment. It was a good opportunity to know each other and  saw with half an eye each of characters. Indonesian culture is the main attraction for them. So, when the presenter explained about any Indonesian culture, one by one the volunteer will ask concerning with.

            Fund rising became their first program. Coincide with CFD ( Car Free Day) in Semarang, all volunteers went to Semarang by public transportation at 6 a.m. Spirit of volunteerism seemed clearly visible at the first sight. In CFD,  they did fund rising to add the budget of the seed of mangrove as the main project, because the seed we bought from the mangrove’s farmer. They also sold Nori (Japanese food) during fund rising and explain about the project to local people. So they buy the food in the same time they also contributed in our project to save the environment. But, there was a problem during fund rising program. Still, some people not really hear about their explanation, they thought that the volunteer just asked the money. Whereas, this program worked just for the shake of better environment.

            Related to the educational program, all volunteers visited Diponegoro University to share about their project. Cross cultural between Indonesian and Japan also presented during visit. Then, they visited the Islamic school MA to share the culture of our volunteer, so the students can understand and get more knowledge about the foreign culture. The last, they visited the elementary school in the village near the camp site to share with children. This is like annual event in every workcamp in Mangkang. The enthusiasm of student is overwhelming, they are so talkative. It make the volunteers need to use extra voice  and tone when explaining something to them. The values and spirit of volunteerism looked like really touch and stuck in their heart. So, they just enjoyed every moment they had.

            Then, for environmental program, they had mangrove planting. The most important role of mangroves is that they protect vulnerable coastlines from wave action because and hold the soil together and prevent coastal erosion. After growing up, a mature mangrove forest acts as a sediment trap, thereby assisting in the accretion of coastal sediments and further adding to the protection of low-lying inland areas. So, through IIWC commitment, mangrove planting becomes the main program in Mangkang Workcamp in order to make our marine environment better. Another environmental program is urban farming. In this program, the volunteers planted the vegetables in the plastic and invited the villagers for joining us and have fun together in the same time they get enrichment about urban farming.

            The value and spirit of volunteering is much deeper, much more fulfilling and much more important in contributing to environmental, educational, world peace than money can ever measure. It is not about money. And volunteering should not be measured that way. “Not everything that counts can be counted. And not everything that can be counted, counts.” — Albert Einstein.

Written by Muhammad Juwaini

          Thursday, July 21 2016, There are five foreign volunteers come to indonesia through IIWC (Indonesia International Workcamp), it is a non-profit non-governmental organization headquartered in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. They come from differerent country ; Marzia Farina and Malesa rinaldi (Italian), Musha Haruka (Japanese), Remy de bats (Netherland), Matteo Torreguitart (French). Nevertheless, the different culture doesn’t make the aim of the program seem to break down. Together they running every program that already planned by IIWC. Matteo said, “Because I really enjoyed my previous expereince as an international volunteer and I would like to do other workcamps.” The enthusiam shown by one of the volunteer as a reason why he decided to join in this program.

            The  activities generally come in the forms of work camps, the hosting of long-middle term volunteers, campaigns, social events, IIWC Cares, and internal activities. It is based on volunteerism and cooperates with a number of partners in the local, national, and international for the same purpose. Fortunatelly, the five foreign volunteers placed in Mangkang, West of Semarang City. They have 5 main programs ; mangrove planting, school visit, fundraising in CFD, making traditional stuffs (Batik, Poci cookies, Mangrove cookies) and playing with local children.

            Through Reporting Sheet provided by IIWC, it can be seen how the program worked whether succed or not. Started by doing mangrove planting program. Anthony B. Rath from WWF organization states “like coral reefs, mangrove forests are extremely productive ecosystems that provide numerous good and services both to the marine environment and people.” It can be said that mangrove has a lot of benefit and advantage for marine environment and society. Thus, the existance of this program might would raising awareness and thoughtfulness toward the marine enviroment. Within 3000 mangrove seeds provide by IIWC, the volunteers were leaving by boat together with  some local partner. Although there are some problem during planting process dealing with restrictiveness of planting area and rising the sea level, overall they enjoyed the  mangrove planting program.

            The second program is school visit. It is Introducing foreign culture toward elementary students in Mangkang Wetan & MI Al Hidayah. The volunteers also teach the students to improve understanding about the importance of environmental cleanliness. But unfortunatelly during the visit, less volunteers prepare the materialthat will be given to the students. It would be better if volunteer prepare the material or games that will be presented with several variations of carrying materials, tools appropriate, suitabled and fitted with a number of students.

            The third program is Fundraising in Car Free Day Semarang. The purpose is for purchasing a mangrove seeds while campaign organization IIWC & Mangkang Work camp. In CFD,  They are selling a pudding, splitting stickers and socialization. But, the problem is the CFD place far enough away from the camp site, then puddings unsold all, and also the volunteer lack the marketing skills. But, isn’t a huge problem, the most important is they learn a lot about fundraising for the shake of a better environment.

            Another program is making traditional stuffs (Batik, Poci cookies, Mangrove cookies). The purpose is introducing Indonesian culture to the international volunteers, Familiarizing with local communities, and introducing the use of mangrove in everyday life as well. They really enjoyed and interested, even some volunteers intend to make a batik with complex patterns. But, they find difficulity to finish the batik. It sounds funny may be, because however making a batik requires a gradual exercise. It is impossible for beginners making kinds of batik with complex patterns.

            The last one is playing with local children. It purely to help volunteers get along with local children, knowing the traditional game. For the local children, it will help them to know the simple english daily conversation. Indirectly, this program will change the habitual way thinking of local children in which less attention in education. Because in this chance, IIWC also applied program learning by doing. Then, the enthusiasm of local children in education automatically getting increase.

            So, volunteers actually get many things in workcamp program, not only improving awareness in environmental, cultural and educational issue but also adding friends and knowledge . Through IIWC,  they learn to hold the responsibility and continue to earnestly carry out every activity with a vengeance despite the problems dealing with. It might would increase the level of happiness of life ; play, learn, and share a laugh with people is priceless happiness. It is an incredible feeling when we can do things and provide good benefits for others.

IVS stands for International Voluntary Services, where the local institution or organization who have a partnership with others institution or organization send their own volunteer to help the society. The word “volunteering” implies to a wish to offer one’s time, effort and skills for the accomplishment of different tasks such as helping young children with their homework, educating people about health, taking care and protect the strays, etc. While the word of “services” often used to describe it are words such as duty, work, employment or labor. So International Voluntary Services is based on individual desire to provide something to someone and doing so within a certain period of time to get a great outcome.

International Voluntary Services started after when there is a group of young people from different European countries came together to help rebuild some of the houses destroyed in the first world war in 1920. They made sure that joining international group effort to help people in need means to build human bridges across deep trenches torn up by the war and promoting peace and understanding. They believed in the principle that the young people should engage voluntarily in their activities, principles which have remained valid up to today. In 1989 a few of the major International Voluntary Service NGOs established a “steering group” to indicate and describe barriers to international voluntary service at the national and international level and to work together towards the elimination of these obstacles.

Voluntary service projects durations in IIWC of PKBI can distinguish between short term projects, generally called “work camps”, lasting between a few days and two weeks. The second category in terms of duration are “long middle-term voluntary”, for the middle term lasting between six months and for the long term voluntary between six until twelve months.

The main program is mapping. Mapping aims to map the area around the campsite which has potential to be the solution of the issue. Firstly, the volunteer must survey the area around campsite. After the surveyed finished, they
visit to some places such a place for making bamboo traditional music Toraja. They want to see the potential of this traditional music can be the issue for the next work camp or not.

Besides mapping, this work camp also has several programs.  They had Green School and Origami Class. Green school activities aim to utilize vacant land in SMA Kristen Makale for planting vegetables. While origami class, an activity for the introduction of all member IIWC to children around the campsite. This activity also aims to introduce Japanese culture to children in Toraja. Then, Candle Project aims to utilizing the waste cooking oil to be used as a candle. The waste cooking oil is collected from some of the houses that exist around the campsite.

Camp Leader : Haris

Written by : Ninia Rakhma

In the beginning of this new year, I got a chance to assist two foreigners who want to be volunteer in a project in Semarang. The project is in Nuansa Mandiri cooperation. It is concerning in micro finance and woman empowerment. In addition, there is something that makes this cooperation special and different from the others, they are the existance of foreign volunteers and the partnership with PKBI. These volunteers come from Belgium and Germany.

Nuansa Mandiri cooperation started from the ideas from the founders that women should be productive. They should be able to earn money for her own self, not only depending to the husband. These woman made some creative handy craft and souvenir to be sold. Time by time, they try to develop it by joining exhibition about home industry at Solo, 2005. During three years, the member want to develop it by achieving a legal state from government, then they started to register this group of productive women into a cooperation. This legal state finally achieved in 2008. After being legal, the member is increasing. In 2017, the active member is about 200 people. They do micro finance such as saving money and having  a debt. Beside, the cooperation also give some education about reproduction health to the member because this cooperation is corporated with PKBI, the one who is concerning on this. In addition, the coming foreign volunteers make this cooperation grow greater.

There were some activities which is organized by the volunteers from Belgium and Germany. They were children class, yoga class, football class, school visit, and some others daily activities like going to the market to do micro finance with the member of Nuansa Mandiri cooperation. The volunteers did this project for one month, it was in January 2017. They stated that they were glad to have this project. They could help to empower women to be more productive. Moreover, one thing that they enjoyed very much is that how they could learn about Indonesia and share many things with the society.

An article by Uswatun Hasanah / English Literature Unissula

Pertamina-IIWC Makassar Empowerment Work Camp is started from 11 – 24 August 2016 with one international volunteer from Japan; Yukie and several local volunteers from Makassar. In the work camp, we’re not only concentrating in the project theme, but also in social and environmental values and children. The work camp started with activity support KWN Fatimah Az Zahrah. We gave vitamin to baby and measure their weight. Then we played together with the children in Patingalloang village also we had creative class that attended by many children. In creative class we made a photo frame and everyone look so happy at that time. Also we taught the children how to make note book from reuse paper then we taught them how to say “please”, “thankyou” and queuing. On that day is more peaceful than before because the children now more organized.

On Monday 15^th August 2016 the camp leader and volunteers were visiting Pertamina Company as the sponsor and partnership of this work camp. PT. PERTAMINA (persero) is stand for Persatuan Perusahaan Pertambangan Minyak dan Gas Bumi Nasional or State Owned oil & gas company (National Oil Company). They explain how produce and distribute gasoline around Sulawesi island. The volunteers felt so happy because they got a new knowledge and realized how rich Indonesia. We had active discussion, because many volunteers asking about gasoline in Sulawesi. As a CSR partner we also presented our activity and our plan in this project. Pertamina also give a space for us to make the wall in the street nicer. So we had painting in the wall program with the volunteers and local teenagers to paint the wall together.

The volunteers also had school visit in several schools. There they’re presenting how to washing hand and brush tooth correctly. In Huang Tuah High School, Yukie introduce about Japan and raising awareness about social issues. Even it was only one international volunteer from Japan, but the atmosphere still awesome.

Campleader : Wahyu Agung

Written by : Ninia Rakhma

This project has one international volunteer from Japan and one camp leader. The first activity there was giving an informal education for the children. There around 30 children that join the class. They look so happy and enthusiast with our project even though they didn’t understand what the international volunteer said luckily there were  our camp leader and local volunteers that help to translate and communicate each other.

This project also had school visit and university visit. They visited SD Negeri Candi 3, there they have cultural exchange and educative games. There were a lot of students that join in our project, both of the students and the volunteers look so happy. Godongsongo camp has special event “Reproductive Health Seminar by PKBI” for the teenager there. This is the first seminar in Gedongsongo.

Although one of our goal; is to increase the awareness of the local people there about garbage management (especially non-organic garbage) can’t be realization at that time because of many reasons but we already give a bit socialization for the local people there. We hope that it can be realization next time when this project started again.

Gedungsongo1602 : 11-24 Maret 2016

Camp leader : Maryam Fatchy

Written by : Ninia Rakhma

Deliserdang work camp is conducted at 10^th August – 22^nd August 2016 that focusing in Kids and Education. In this work camp there were five international volunteers; one from UK, three from Italy and one from French. Although the main focus of this project is Kids and Education but in this work camp the volunteers had many interesting activities such as rice field observation. The volunteers walked around the field and enjoyed the view of Denai Lama. They took photos together with the children. They also had group vacation village visit. Here the volunteers made traditional snack called dodol papaya, banana cake. Also they made handicraft with the local people.  Though they didn’t know how to make it, but the local people taught them patiently.

The volunteers was feeling so lucky because they can attend the ceremony of Indonesia Independence Day at 17^th August 2016 as special guest. Some of them said that this is their fist time to join in the ceremony. Even though they are not Indonesian but they must appreciate it and they showed that live in diversity is very interesting and peaceful if we can appreciate each other. From the diversity we can learn something new that we haven’t know before.

Since this project is focusing in Kids and Education so they had many activities that regarding with the children. School visit is their first program. They visit there schools and had several games and made miniature house together. Not only school visit, but the volunteers also had informal language class. They taught 3 languages in the class and it is beyond of their expectation because the student can understand it well.

Though all of their programs well done but the volunteers had a bit problems such as culture shock. The volunteer’s habits is like go out in the night and on the contrary they had to dwell in their house, it was a culture shock for them. They were thinking nice of the people in the village, but sometimes they just could not accept the concept of the village rule (society rule) since it was totally different for them. However, overall was okay for them since it was their first time to be in Indonesia and in the very village part of Indonesia.

Campleader : Yusuf Wildan

Written by : Ninia Rakhma

Borobudur is one of world heritage that located in Magelang Regency, Central Java. Borobudur temple is the biggest Buddhist Temple in the world, it has complete Buddhist relief. Many people come to Borobudur to see the temples and learn about the history, as well the local people that think and see Borobudur as tourist attraction. Whereas they must be the first reference for the visitor about Borobudur but most of them work as a seller in the Borobudur area. This phenomena become the reason why IIWC of PKBI to have a project called “Borobudur Village” collaborated with the local community to improve the awareness of local people in the preservation of their own culture.

Borobudur village project is started in 2016. We have four volunteers, for Short Time Volunteer (STV); one from Wales, two from Spain and one from Japan. There is also three volunteers, for Long Middle Time Volunteer (LMTV); two from French and one from Malaysia. In this project the volunteers has several activities such as have an English Class collaborated with Tourist Information Center (TIC) for the children after their finished school. This activity very useful for them because the children can apply what they learn from English Class if there is any tourist or foreigner who comes to Borobudur. Not only learning about English but also they learn drawing or others to forbid boredom in the class. They also had school visit, here they did cultural exchange and campaign about Borobudur Conservation. The campaign is conducted around Borobudur area, the target is Borobudur visitor. The volunteers made poster that consist about what shouldn’t do in the temples. This campaign goal is to support preservation of Borobudur as one of world heritage site.

Next, the volunteers visited in Borobudur Conservation Office to learn about conservation based on their background, education and skills. The volunteers also had cultural exchange event that collaborated with local partner. Here, they learn how to make several arts such as gerabah, batik, mask and playing gamelan (one of traditional music). And they have special three special events, they participated in Gerabah Festival in Karanganyar, Borobudur Youth Forum and Borobudur Go Green.

Written by : Ninia Rakhma

Marina is an International Volunteer from Japan that joined in Very Short Term Volunteer Rumpin Bangjo’s project. She contributed herself to help and take care the children around Johar Market for 5 days. Even she had a problem that can’t speak English fluently but she’s never give up, her English improve well day by day. She practiced English by learning and doing.

At the first she got orientation and observation, she started to get closer with the children. She taught the children how to make origami. They made many kinds of origami, and the children keep it well at their home. Not only origami, but Marina also taught how to make and how to read Japanese calligraphy. Even though it is not easy for children but they did it very well and it made Marina look so satisfied and grateful.

This project also has fund raising event to help the children in Rumpin Bangjo. Marina mad sushi rolls by her then she sell it on the Car Free Day in Jalan Pahlawan. She walked around and ordering to the CFD’s participants. Many of them interested to try it, because of this Marina feel so happy because all of the sushi rolls was sold out.

All of the money from the fund raising donated to the children in Rumpin Bangjo at 23^rd July 2016 in the Celebration of National Children’s Day (Hari Anak Nasional). Marina hopes the money can be useful for the children and they can use it wisely. And the children in Rumpin Bangjo receive it with the happily and thankful to the Marina and IIWC for their help.

The last day in Semarang, Marina had school visit in Al-Ilman Elementary School. She came to the class one. There, Marina taught the children how to make a simple origami. After they finished they took a picture together with their own origami. Then, the children was hanging up their origami in the class room.

Although she only stayed for five days here, she said she already know the hard life of street children. “It made me wants to help more and come back here again. I was so happy here to help the children, I’ll be miss them”, said Marina. After the project finished, she just realized that her English improved well and again it is one of her reasons to be so happy here.

Starting with orientation about what is IIWC of PKBI and Dance4Life that presented by Miss Dania, the International Volunteer in Dance4Life’s project, Iago Martinez Barros from Spain looked so clearly understand what have been delivered by her. In this project will be focusing on the health. The volunteers must educate the local people about HIV/AIDS.

The volunteer came to the some school to educate the students there about HIV/AIDS. The first school is SMP 10 November, the SMA Kesatrian 1 Semarang, SMK Ibu Kartini, SMA 8 Semarang, SMP N 30 Semarang, SMP 18 Semarang. There, they explain what is HIV/AIDS, the cause of HIV/AIDS, how to prevent HIV/AID and others. This kind of explanation is very important to the students because they need many information about that to keep their selves from free sex and HIV/AIDS. The explanation became an interesting dialogue between the volunteer and the students. The students, teachers and volunteer also did some sport activities together.

Not only educate to the students in the some schools, but the volunteer gave training to the local people how to keep healthy. After the training has finished, the next agenda was Language Class. Here, the volunteer taught to the children to speak English and the children taught the volunteer to speak Bahasa Indonesia. There is a funny moment because the children sometimes did a wrong way to speak even the volunteer Iago, sometimes he also did a wrong way to pronounce some Bahasa Indonesia.

In this project, Iago admitted that for the first he got shock culture,  for the first he didn’t know how to handle it, time by time when their can build a good friendship, Iago try to starts to share his problem, finally he can handle the shock culture helped by the others and he got used to with the culture in Indonesia. He was very happy to live in differences, he said that “In “Living Group and Social “, I write about my thinking I am thankful with them and I hope to meet them again, here or in Spain”. He also hopes all of the participants can be keeping in touch to keep their friendships.

Tari Topeng is traditional dance from Indramayu

Indramayu Youth Empowerment is one of project of IIWC that hold in Desa Karangsong Kabupaten Indramayu, West Java, most of people here work as fisherman because this village very near with the biggest place for fish auction (Tempat Pelelangan Ikan) in West Java. Some of them wok as a shipwright and their economic condition on the very low level. While the children condition is so bad, they have no playground. After they finished their school, they are playing in the fish auction location. This place is not suitable for them because of many reasons, like the environment is not good for their health. This is the background of this project.

The major job for the volunteers here is to help the children to use their free time wisely by doing positive activities such as reading a book, English learning, and making handicraft and so on. This project also have work camp and this is the first work camp in Indramayu. There is four International Volunteer; two from Italy, one from Denmark and one from Taiwan. Beside work camp there are several project in Indramayu Youth Empowerment, first in learning together in TBM (Taman Baca Masyarakat) Lentera Hati, here they read as many books as possible. The volunteers also made an English Class for the children. Second is University Visit, here to volunteers promote and persuade the college students to join in their event “International Youth Day” many students there very interest to join in this event. Third is School Visit, in the school they did cultural exchange and asked the students to join in the TBM to learning together.

The volunteers had Cultural Exchange in University and SMK N 2 Indramayu. The students there had a presentation about local culture and traditional dance from Indramayu; tari topeng (dancing using a mask).the volunteers learned how to dance and they join in dance class. The biggest event in this project is International Youth Day, in this event they have to promote TBM Lentera Hati to the participants. The youth and students asked to weld books for TBM and had a discussion with some figures in literacy.

According to Edward B. Taylor culture is a complex whole, that it contains the knowledge, belief, art, morals, laws, mores, and other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society. Every places has their own culture and culture is so unique, we can’t denied it. Cause it has their own characteristic to distinguish their own culture than others. Even though in some places have similar culture but we can find the differences among them. Cultural exchange involves the correlation exchange of symbols, artifacts, rituals, or technologies with the culture itself. Examples include mutual influence on religious beliefs and how to practices, technological exchange, the music and visual arts and so on.

The Republic of Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populated nation with 203 million people. With over 17000 islands of which 600 are inhabited, it is home to 300 ethnic groups. The four major cultural groups are the Sundanese in West Java; the Javanese in Central and East Java; the Madurese on Madura and in East Java; and the Balinese in Bali. An extraordinary range of belief systems, material culture, and arts where it is composing one of the most ethnographically rich and diverse countries in the world. Temples, beautiful poetry and literature, theatrical performances, rich mythologies, and sophisticated thinking have distinguished Indonesia for centuries and continue into the present. Since of that, many foreigners come to Indonesia to be volunteer, tourist even stay in Indonesia to learn and understand well about Indonesian’s culture.

IIWC of PKBI is one of the non-government organization that held a work camp with local and international volunteers. Not only work camp, but the volunteers also have so many projects to do and cultural exchange too. International volunteers learn many cultures about Indonesia like learning Indonesian traditional dance, tasting the most popular and tasty Indonesian food, practicing to speak in Bahasa, Indonesian customs, visiting and learning about Indonesian histories in some historical and heritage places. All of them look so interesting and excited to know and learn about Indonesian culture. Not only learn about Indonesian culture, but the International Volunteers also have an opportunity to show off, explain and promote their own culture to the local people or the other volunteers that come from many countries. Like what we said before, culture is so unique because it has a characteristic and that’s why cultural exchange is important to appreciate and improve our knowledge about other cultures.