A Journey of a Youth Volunteer to a Professional Humanitarian Worker
My first assignment working in the humanitarian sector responding to natural disaster events was as logistic volunteer support for a local NGOs in Jakarta, Nurani Dunia. Nurani Dunia is a local organization based in Jakarta owned by Dr Imam Prasodjo, a sociologist that has depth concerns on natural and social disasters.
It was 2004, during Boxing Day when I watch
the news on TV about major tsunami waves sweeping Aceh. I never heard about tsunamis
before nor been to Aceh. I knew Aceh, after hearing news about the Aceh Freedom
Movement (GAM). I remember at that time, I received a phone call from Nurani
Dunia, where I was working voluntarily there, asking my willingness to be part
of their Emergency Response Team called Indonesia Peduli. I was on my final
semester exam; without hesitation, I offered my assistance to support their response
mission.
Prior to this response mission, a year before I
also supported my assistance to help the victims of JW Marriot Hotel Bombing in
Jakarta. However, at that time it was different. I worked as an assessor instead
of a logistician. Working as a logistician for the 2004 Tsunami and Earthquake Response
for Aceh and Nias gave me a first-hand experience in a more high-pressure
environment. It was tiring, as I took the morning shift from early morning at 6
AM to 1 or 3 PM. It took me nearly 2 hours from my house to the main warehouse
in Central Jakarta area. Meaning that at the latest I had to go out of my
house around 4 AM.
In general, working as a logistician I learnt
that I had to be able to do multitasking jobs. From updating the relief items
database, checking the quality of the goods or donation items that were received
and counting their quantities, sorting the items based on their categories, and
ensuring that the goods were kept properly in the adequate spaces that were available.
In particular, I had to also make sure for the specific items, such as
beverages and foods have their expiring dates at least 1 month old. At that
time, we considered that it will take around 1 month time for transport the
goods and distribute them. There was a time when I found out that dozens of donations
of UHT Milks in 1-liter cartons were near their expiration date. Nurani Dunia
then decided to be given away the milk to their volunteers and communities
near the warehouse.
There were a lot of donations that came in from the private
sectors, such as Coca-Cola, Mandiri Bank, JW Marriot Hotel, Unilever, and
others. At that time, we were lucky to have the USAID – United State Agency for
Development become our main sponsorship for the response mission. It helped us to mobilize the resource easily. Later
the relief items were transported to Halim Kusuma Airport to be loaded into
Hercules. The volunteers worked for hand in hand with the military personnel from
Indonesia Military Force (TNI), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and Royal
Air Force (RAF). It was a first-hand experience to work with different military
personnel. I was also assigned to monitor the transportation of the items in Naval
Command Port (Kolinlanmil) and make sure that all items were well arranged in
Santa Fe Ship before shipping out to Aceh or Nias.
Although I did not get a chance to fly to Aceh or
Nias during the response. Yet, I felt that in near future I will have the
opportunity to work there. And it did, 4 years later, I have supported the work
of Surf Aid International and United Nations Office for Recovery Coordination
(UNORC) in Nias to develop the Nias DRR Strategy Plan. A few months after, my job
application was accepted by the UNORC Aceh to join as its Associate for the Recovery
Programme to support the acceleration of earthquake and tsunami recovery, reintegration
process, and city/District development Programme. This was my first assignment
working away from home. Without knowing anyone in Aceh nor having any relatives
or families, I learnt to live independently and adapt to the local cultures of
Aceh. I learnt that to become a professional humanitarian worker, you will need
to have full dedication and commitment, as well a strong passion to work
improving the communities’ life. I gratefully thank you to Nurani Dunia for
giving me a chance to grow up as a volunteer to become a professional in the humanitarian sector.
