“Be the change that you want to see in the world”, quote of
Mahatma Gandhi
What change(s) do you want to see in this world, guys?? This
is a MUST question that everyone (particularly young people) has in her/his
mind while observing all challenges, development, chances,and struggles are happening surround us.
 |
| Joshua (IYN), Lili (SMN) and Bert (Regional Coordinator of tdh) |
This note is written by Lili Suryani, as youth delegate from
Southeast Youth Network (SYN) and as National Youth/Children Coordinator of
#Suara Muda Nusantara-SMN, facilitated by terre des hommes Germany, and Roosa
B.B.Sibarani as adult companion volunteer. We may called it as “foot prints”
that may giving inspiration, spirit of change, and power of young people to all
readers worldwide. Yaaa....though we are apart in distance, but you may find
that some young people community in another side of this world are (still)
struggling “the same matter” as you are
fighting for!!! We are not alone! ACTION TOGETHER, ACHIEVING BETTER WORLD!!!
My young, creative and dynamic fellows, it was an awesome
chance for me to be youth delegate of SYN to attend series of
event-International Youth Meeting, VAMOS,
terre des hommes Open 2015 and School Visit- held in Osnabrueck and
Munich in Germany from 14-23 June 2015. May be this short journal could not
cover all expression, lessons learned, values and knowledge that i would like
to bring and share with you all as my token, or in Bahasa called it “oleh-oleh”, in tagalog “pasalubung”. But i will try to bring the
“real atmoshpere” and you may feel the “click” which i felt and stick in my
mind. So, are you ready to have this short-tour with me???
Blue Region, White
people....Never Dream of It!!
Our flight was started from
Jakarta-Doha-Frankfurt-Muenster(Osnabrueck), total 19 hours including 2 hours
transit, with Qatar airlines. It was a smooth flight and lucky us! Not so many
passengers on board, therefore i could occupy some seats and sleeping along the
way. However, it did not work with Kak Roosa Sibarani, she could not sleep and
stay awake till we reach Osnabrueck city. But it was good for me, because she
could watch over me and wake me up for
every meal session which i like, therefore i did not missed it ;-))
Lessons:
Take a good sleep and aware of your health days before the
long flight. It was good to have event while not peak-season. Enjoy meals on
board, though you might miss Indonesian food, but be thankful with the
experience you grab on board. Thank you tdhG for paying our transportation ;-)
On 13th June we arrived in Frankfurt and in the evening
continue last flight to Osnabrueck. It was summer, but.....it was cold!! And
only at 10.15 p.m we witnessed the sun went off. Ohhh...can you imagine
that??!! Not easy for me to start enjoying my bed while still bright out there!
Somehow, i saw kak Roosa also had same problem with me. She was working with
her notebook the whole night till late early morning tilll i say “good night”
at around 2 a.m German time (at 7 a.m in Indonesia).
Lessons
Be aware of time difference. It is good as soon as you
arrive in europe and get adjust with local time. Therefore you could continue
your activity. Other wise you would have double headache.
They called it summer, but for Asian it is NOT at all!! It
was so cold! But for little-skinny-girl like me it was hard to overcome the
cold ;-(( Bring warm jacket with you which can be used for in and out door.
Avoid bringing too many jacket. Don;t forget your lips-balm/moisturizer. Always
enjoy every moment and minutes, be thankful!!
New Friends: Youth
Worldwide
My friends, in this event we met many new young people
coming from project areas which supported by terre des hommes Germany. They
also come with their presentation which i learned in some matters have
similiarity are happening in our Southeast Asia region, such as environment
issues, education, child labours, violence, handicap children, etc.
Our new friends are: Edmilson Lopes from Mozambigue, Anjana
(South Asia), Flor from Guatemala, Diana Rodriguez from Argentina. And not
forgotten the adult companions are Rui from Mozambigue, and Neetha from South
Asia.
Lessons:
It was good before i came to Germany, my organization (KKSP)
and adult companion gave me a comprehensive orientation that helped me to have
some ideas about other youth delegates whom i met in Germany. I was given some
information about culture difference, way of thinking, weather, their food, little
clue about their project that supported by tdhG, etc. This orientation was very
helpful for me, at least i have some ideas of my new friends, atmosphere,
values that i have to carry on that may help me to broaden my perspective and
respect others.
This should be maintained and continued by tdhG before
sending a child/youth to any international/regional events.
Head Office of terre
des hommes Germany, Sounds Formal and Serious (adult) People...BUT....A CHILD-FRIENDLY
OFFICE!!
What do you have in mind while listening to “head
office/head quarter”?? Many things would come in to your mind, right?
Now i will be your tour-guide and imagining the atmosphere
in head office terre des hommes Germany. Be ready guys!!
We were picked up by Anna Buschemann and Irene (the
translator) from Dom Hotel.
The building is a German-typical, i guess not a new one,
parking area not so many cars and with many rose flowers, many adults and also
young ones, many IT peripherals, fotocopy machines, printer machines, many maps
(i guess the project areas), rooms decorated tidy and clean, many rooms with
transparent-glass and wood door (most of their doors are very, very heavy for a
little-skinny girl like me, i have to give on all my power to pull or push
it...gosh!!! anyway i think everything has reason and purpose right....for
european those doors are not heavy). Here i met some adults in age but “young
looking”. Why i come to this conclusion?? Guess how?? Not by their gesture, nor
by their way of speakng. I could come to this conclusion after a games of
“office rally” which led by Lena.
This games allowed us as new comer at that
time to know some of the adults who dedicate years of their life and
professional for terre des hommes Germany. And from several departments i could
met, what i most like were to get idea about history of terre des hommes
Germany and to have some “souvenir” from the logistic department. They have
plenty of publications, brochures, cards, pins, balloons, creative souvenirs
which tdhG logo. Wow!!! I love to stay in this room and creating attactive
things that might be useful for our campaign J
And besides those souvenirs, what i like most are cute
candies and chocolate that prepared by Anna and Lena as our coffee break. It
was called coffee break, but almost all of us drinking water and juice. But for
me i don;t like sparkling water, i prefer normal water.
On 2nd day we were welcomed officially by Albert R, Insa, and Barbara K. From this short session
we had chance to meet “key persons (the Bosses)” sitting in the head office.
They look friendly (enggak jaim) and cool!!
Three days we spent time together in head office and
preparing our presentation for International Youth Meeting, VAMOS and tdh Open.
We also talked about Global Action Month 2014 and 2015; short orientation about
International Youth Network (IYN). Though we work hard and seriously, but we
also had good time to play, chats, share laughs in between, and for sure
enjoying different meals.
Lessons:
I myself really learn the “functuality” of German people.
For Asian like me, i used to be flexible in the process of every session
(particularly if needed more time in a discussion) , but here i learn a lot on
how to be functual!! It was a good experience for me. But may be for kak Roosa
it was not a new thing and already get adjusted.
It was a good start for young people like me as one of the
direct beneficiaries supported by tdhG through KKSP to have meaningful visit to
HO tdhG. I witnessed, felt, and experienced how the “machine” works from
international level coming to my country till to my village. I learn a lot how
tdhG gets support from common people in Germany in order to support its works
which established with its partners worldwide.
By having group activity and preparation at the HO, i got
new lessons from other youth delegates on how they build their presentation.
Particularly i learn alot from my friend Eddy (Edmilson Lopes). He is a
“lifeful” presentator. He able to grab attention of the audiences and kept
their attention from beginning till to end. He was funny also. I am blessed to
meet him.
More over, by listening to others presentation i learned
that many children and youth groups worldwide are struggling to build a better
world for children. Such as my friend from India-Anjana, Guatemala-Flor,
Argentina-Diana Rodriguez.
From several adults i met at the HO, I learn that they have
been working in long term with tdhG, even more than 10 years. Wow!! For me this
is a new alarm leading to dedication. Might be one day when finished my study i
learn to build my dedication as well.
Oh ya...if you don;t like sparkling water, you may drink
directly the water from the tap. It is safe!!
My Presentation =
Voice+Action of Young People
A month my presentations were prepared before coming to
Germany. My organization #KKSP, my group (#Child Protection Network) and kak Roosa Sibarani gave me so much
assistance on this. My sessions were set as follow:
-20/6 VAMOS, regarding Lili’s Life and experience as child
labour, current situation of child labour, activity of Taman PALAPA, #Child
Protetion Network and #Suara Muda Nusantara. Presentation through short video
documentation, different games and colorful cards.
-21/6 International Youth Meeting Workshop, regarding Lili’s
Life and experience as child labour, current situation of child labour,
activity of Taman PALAPA, Child Protetion Network (CPN) and Suara Muda
Nusantara (#SMN) and Southeast Asia Youth Network (#SYN) Presentation through
short video documentation, song of “Hak Anak Merdeka” and colorful cards.
-21/6 tdh Open 2015, regarding Alternative Report on CRC
Monitoring and Implementation in Indonesia, created by children groups. Structure
and activity of Taman PALAPA, CPN, SMN and SYN. Presentation through short
video, song of “Hak Anak Merdeka” and colorful metacards. In this event i had
chance to collaborate with Pak Alberto Cacayan in the same workshop.
-22/6 Visit to School in Munich, attended by around 45
students, 11-14 y.o, regarding Lili’s Life and experience as child labour,
current situation of child labour, activity of Taman PALAPA, Child Protetion
Network and Suara Muda Nusantara. Presentation through short video documentation,
puppets paper show, different games,
song of “Hak Anak Merdeka” and colorful cards.
-23/6 Visit to School in Munich, attended by around 30
students, 15-17 y.o, regarding Alternative Report on CRC Monitoring and
Implementation in Indonesia, created by children groups. Structure and activity
of Taman PALAPA, CPN, SMN and SYN. Presentation through short video, song of
“Hak Anak Merdeka” and colorful metacards.
Lessons:
From beginning I was given chance to decide method of my
presentation. I told KKSP and kak Roosa that I don't feel comfortable with
powerpoint presentation. I decided to use video documentation which prepared by
the children and youth groups, paper puppets show, attractive games and songs.
It was good that since beginning i was given complete
information on the venue of each activity, age and numbers of the participants
that will attend my session, also helpful team from HO tdhG to prepare some
tools and equipments needed to support my presentation.
Different methods of presentation for different audience is
a good choice we made and prepared!! It gives more confident to me and i am
happy to do it!
I feel a bit serious and nervous in the beginning during
presentation on 21/6 tdhOpen 2015, because sharing same session with Pak
Alberto Cacayan. I learn different atmosphere while standing in front of adults
compared with the other sessions standing in front of young people.
By given this chance, i myself being motivated to upgrade
and learn more my capacity in doing presentation, particularly to explore new
and fresh method for different audiences and event. During this time i have
experience to facilitate my own group and young people in country and regional
levels only.
More over, through this chance i am motivated to learn and
upgrade my english skill. Those colorful metacards helped me much in my
presentation, but i have to explain in english sentences. It was great to have
kak Roosa Sibarani, she was helpful and patience.
VAMOS: Exchanging
Creative Ideas+Spirit of Change+Power of Young People
We had two days of VAMOS activity. If i may tell you the
truth, VAMOS is my first TOP favorite big group activity, then second followed
by visit to schools, IYM workshop, visit HO tdhG and tdhOpen 2015. For me VAMOS
is like “ a storage” of creative ideas, meeting great and inspiring young
people and has “magnet” that gives you new energy to stick each other
eventhough you just recently (couple of minutes) knowing each other. I LOVE
IT!!!
VAMOS were attended by children and youth members from
volunteers group based in Germany. They are awesome!! Really inspiring what
they have done and doing through their projects. Some of them are school based
and out of school.
In VAMOS i learn and absorb a lotttt.....ideas and energy!
Here i got information regarding preparation of 50th Anniversary of terre des
hommes Germany by 2017, UTAG creative protest activity, cyber crime, Unknown
Destination- Children on the Move campaign, charity activity for Nepal
earthquake, refugee children, and many more creative ideas.
Lessons:
Two days were not enough to get to know each participants. I
found creative ideas of children and youth in Germany are cool!! Also, i learn
that since early childhood, some children in Germany have already active
involved as volunteer for doing charity program.
I had good chance to know Marle, a nine-year-old girl who
has been actively as volunteer since she was seven years old. WOW!!! Really
inspiring for me! If i compare to
children in my village and my country, i think not easy to invite someone to be
volunteer. Even adults sometimes dont want to be volunteer for doing charity
works. They keep on asking, “what is the benefit as a volunteer? 24 hours even
not enough for me, why should i become a volunteer?”. Since i met Marle, i
found an “oase” which i can
share with my fellows in Indonesia.
Time allocation for small group discussion and having tour
of eight groups with different topics was not enough. Sometimes, i need time to
“digest” information and topic shared, not only grabbing the ideas at the
surface.
So cool this activity! I hope tdhG would keep this activity
for the next year. Thank you for those involved in the preparation of VAMOS.
Before we end this writing, we wanna share with you all,
that:
“It’s the ACTION,
not the fruit of the action, that’s IMPORTANT.
You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your
time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the
right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do
nothing, there will be no result”.
With love from
Lili Suryani and Roosa Sibarani
