First on the menu comes the international workcamp

The first part of my stay (July 10 - July 23) is devoted to a work camp, taking place at a local orphanage. Along with 11 other participants (representatives of 6 different cultures), I will spend time with the children and will be in charge of preparing activities for them. Working alongside and mingling with people from other cultures will help us understand how culturally determined we are and how where we were born and raised determines the way we not only solve, but also - look at our problems.

Armed with enthusiasm and zest for adventure, we are being united by one main thing - our shared desire to do something of value to others. It is of critical importance that we get familiar and used to the daily life of the orphans as fast as possible so as to gain their trust and build a meaningful relationship with them from the very beginning. A friend of mine, an art therapist, once told me "You gotta sense how they feel, what they need and want to tell you. Empathy is the key! It is not something one can acquire by practice. It is an inner intuition."

All camp members need to prepare ourselves to manage and handle the children; emphasis is placed on social contact and interaction over manual or practical work. We have to take on the role of ambassadors of global understanding and inter-cultural friendship. The other aim of the work camp is to introduce us to the unique Indonesian culture especially during this specific time of the year.

To make the most out of this experience one needs to be curious, open to experimentation, risk-seeking and risk-taking, flexible, creative (so as to come up with the most engaging children's activities), ready to take the initiative and to leave all prejudices and conceptions behind and to welcome every opportunity to learn something more about themselves and about the others, cause it is only through our interactions and communications with others that we let out true personality and character unfold. It is through the feedback and reaction of others to our words and actions, that we gain an idea of the cause and effect relationship in communication. Only then can we learn how to discern different types of people, predict their attitude, and adapt our behavior accordingly. Last but not least, we should refrain ourselves from having any expectations at all.

What will I get as a result of this experience?


First, it will help me get used to extreme living conditions and thus appreciate all that I usually take for granted such as hot water, food, place to live/sleep, etc. We would actually be deprived from the things that we try to artificially, in a way, refrain ourselves from during this period of the year. We won't be imitating, we will be living the true purpose of this holy month.
As it was pointed out to me, it is not a pure coincidence the fact that I have to spend the first days of this experience in this exact environment and context, surrounded by innocence, purity, love, and compassion in the face of the children in the midst of deprivation and shortage of necessities. Cause what are some of the most valuable lessons we learn during this holy month? And isn't it the orphanage the horizon from where the sun shines brightest and the soil where the seeds of change need to be planted, where compassion and care need to thrive. Fasting helps us to understand the suffering and the pains of the poor and needy. Another important lesson is the collective responsibility for building a more ethical and moral society. To work together as volunteers, to help each other, to serve orphaned children and the needy.
I will further learn how to be flexible and adaptable, less picky, and more modest. The Fatimatu Zahra Orphanage is located in Mangunharjo village, 30 minutes far from the capital of central Java, Semarang. This means that we will live a rural style of life but it also offers us the opportunity to be exposed to the authentic and genuine Indonesian culture and lifestyle. I set myself the goal to fully immerse myself in the local community and culture. Therefore, my goal would be to spend as much as possible time among local people, who may not necessarily know English. Therefore, comes the second lesson to acquire: I need to learn to communicate with alternative means of communication such as gestures, pictures, etc.
Life in the village is slowly paced and less stressed. It will give me the opportunity to take a moment to ponder over all basic, simple, yet most valuable things in my life.
....