A little about me...
Raised by a single mother (my father passed away when I was eight) doesn’t make me feel incomplete in my life since my mother has always time for her three children-I’m the second. I come from a simple family who has lived in Jakarta, Indonesia for more than twenty years. I became a teacher after I had earned my bachelor degree of English Department and Education in 2009 from Atma Jaya University, Jakarta. My dream to have some new and challenging experiences opened an unexpected opportunity for me; a friend of mine talked about Vincentian Volunteers program in UK and it generated big curiosity in my mind, which boosted me to type VINCENTIAN VOLUNTEER in Google search (a little advertising ). Everything relating to people interaction, English language, new experience and religiosity are always attractive to me, and the greatest thing’s I can find that whole packet in Vincentian Volunteers; it’s kind of buying one get five free and the fifth thing is FRIENDSHIP; making friends not only with other volunteers (Angely, Ashley, Alicia, Dana, Patrick, Pospos, Timo and Yaya) but also with those whom I serve, vulnerable people. I felt excited and afraid at the same time before I came to UK as it was my first time staying in UK, yet I had great time here; socializing with local people, helping other people in my work placements (REVIVE and CORNERSTONE), celebrating UK National Days and holidays, exploring my English language store and improving it, visiting some scenic and stunning cities in UK and exploring the Great Manchester, where my placement is and many which you might experience too if you are interested in being the next VVs.
Why Vincentian Volunteers...
I prefer to say that Vincentian Volunteers program (VVp) chose me rather than vise versa and I feel being blessed by joining VVp. It is really a program designed for young people and well organized. I have an opportunity to meet young people from different countries, discovering God’s calling in a unique and cool experience that has shaped me to be more counting on God rather than on my own. I did not find any difficulty when I applied my Visa and entered UK as well in 2010 meaning that the congregation and all the staffs who have organized VVp since 1992 are really trustworthy. VVp provides the volunteers some retreats, which are interestingly organized and suitable for young people, and finally, they treat all the volunteers well, I feel really being part of their big family.
My projects...
I have two work placements; first, at Revive, three days a week, my main job is helping the manager with a kind of administration job, including assist homeless and refugees with anything they need: employment stuff, claiming benefit, teaching basic IT skills, food parcel and clothes distribution) and involving in Women’s Group every Monday (making art works, such as jewelry & greeting cards).
The last is at Cornerstone Day Centre, two days a week. Sometimes I do washing dishes and making sandwiches behind the bar, do clients’ laundry, helping clients in computer room and my favorite activities are working in the shop and socializing with the clients by listening to them and sharing stories.
My highlights so far...
- Enjoying the process of cross cultural understanding even though it took some times.
- Being happy to see them; homeless, refugee or asylum seekers whom I helped and served got what they needed. I didn’t do a stunning thing but it just met their needs.
- Conforming to extremely different weather in UK especially the “wind”.