The Road to become the Vice President

Everyone who's close to me has surely know that half of my life nowadays is spent for AIESEC. Whether going for meeting, finishing my aiesec assignment or just hanging out with other AIESECers. I have ambitions in AIESEC and I talk a lot it to people around me. I think of AIESEC as something more than an organization to develop my leadership skill but also a comfortable place where I meet people who care about this organization and willing to do and sacrifice as much as me. It's easy for me to get along with people in AIESEC because we have the same vision and mission. It's so hard to answer when people ask "are you crazy to sacrifice your money, time, and energy for this organization? what do you actually get?" well what I get is not something that I can explain. but if you have known me for a long time, you can sense the difference. besides the soft skill like management, finance, marketing, sales, human resources, which how important it is to run an organization and project. but mostly I learn about my value in life, what is my value? Value is the thing that we hold on the most in life to measure our success. I realize that my values are commitment, open-mindedness, and passion. I learn about the things that I'm good at and bad at because I get the chance to experience many areas in this organization. I was once in charge of marketing, the other time I was the manager who is demanded to know my staff's needs, I work with many foreigners or have to do presentation and give education to many people.

My current position in AIESEC Bandung is Manager of IGCDP 2014/2015, recently I just got elected as Vice President of IGCDP 2015/2016. I started my journey in AIESEC a year ago as Exchange Participant to Poland. I volunteered in a GCDP project. My job is to teach English to Kindergarten Children. I applied merely because of my fondness of English. Eventually, what I got during the project surprises me. I struggled not only with the language differences but also culture, food, weather (it was winter), and many more. The good thing is that I'm not alone because there's also Exchange Participants from other countries. I got the pleasure of knowing new things, new habits, new places, new personalities, which are totally different with mine. It was the first time in my life I had to depend on strangers, people that I just knew for few days already felt like family to me. As the only child in the family, going abroad and living with host family for 6 weeks are something that I call self-achievement.  AIESEC GYAP has taught me two essential things; cultural understanding and independence. I went home with many urges to develop myself since I have known my ability to do things outside my comfort zones. 

That is when I got an offer to be Organizing Committee President for Winter Project 2014. This is my first IGCDP experience, I wanted to give people the life-changing experience like mine. Let me explain about my functional IGCDP which stands for Incoming Global Community Development Program. This functional responsible to make projects that give positive impact to society as one of AIESEC goal. This project is non-profit and the duration is 6 weeks. We invite Exchange Participants from many countries to become a volunteer to teach and give people awareness about education, environment, entrepreneur, or health. This way they also learn about our country and culture. The youth who participated in this program, will get the opportunity to do social activities in the country of his/her choice in accordance with their background skills or issues they are interested in. Unlike exchange student in general that focus on academics.One project only has 5-7 Organizing Committees. We offer to other NGO or company who wants to be our partner, we find a living place for them such as host family or dorm, we interview them and send them invitation letter to the embassy. We also have to give them clear job desk such as making the presentations for students, teaching about recycle to people, or making a business canvas model for small- medium enterprise. For us and them it's really challenging. Unfortunately, my manager left before the project realization. The 6 weeks project became the most stressful, challenging, tiring, and precious period in my life because I have to deal with 20 foreigners. I learn about stress management, project management, team- management, leadership, and even about public relation. I met many inspiring partners and more I saw with my own eyes what impact I could give to those people who have the lack of awareness. I applied to be the manager simply because I know how it feels to have an irresponsible leader and I don’t want anyone in AIESEC feels that way anymore because I owe AIESEC a lot. 

What is driving you to continue in AIESEC? What do you want to take out of this experience?

As a human being, I was in a constant search about something big that I can do to prove myself. I really hate being underestimated, but I realize making mistakes is inevitable. I joined AIESEC as an amateur, but now I have developed so much through the inner and outer journey. And importantly because I am given the chance and no one underestimated me in this organization. This is what driving me to continue because I love this environment. 

What does AIESEC mean for you as a person?

AIESEC means as a learning platform for me, practically and theoretically. When I was an Exchange Participant, I learn to live outside of my comfort zone. When I was an Organizing Committee President, I learn to work under pressure. When I was a Manager, I learn about managing my team. I continuously discover my capability. I have never been this challenged in my life before I joined AIESEC.

What is the most memorable moment within your team in AIESEC? And why you choose these experiences as your memorable moment?

The most memorable moment which really encouraged me happened when I became an Organizing Committee President. This is my first experience in IGCDP and I have so much of new things to learn in a brief time, at the same time I have to lead my team and making decisions. During the second week of the project, all the exchange participants complained about the project timeline, the dorm, and also the financial problem. Me and my Ocs worked under very much pressure to achieve their expectation. Until they threatened to leave the project, me and my team had a meeting in the middle of the night. We all almost cry and I felt so demotivated, I almost decided to run away from the project. But my heart told me to support my teammates because if not me then who else? I called my current VP and she calmed me down and gave me suggestion. All my team members are afraid to talk to the EPs, so I came forward to the EP, overcoming my own fear. I learned that being a leader not only about achieving goals, but also encourage your team mates.

What are you future plans describe your future path and how possession as a VP will help you in achieving your further goals?

I plan to take my master degree abroad with scholarship. Afterward, I plan to work in a newspaper as an international journalist which require me to travel around the world and meet people with different nationalities. In the end, I want be a writer that inspire a lot of people. By becoming vice president, I will be working in bigger scale where I will be attending conferences and managing international relationship. As in IGCDP, I will be demanded to know the current problem of society and conduct a project that spread positive impact. This experience working in diversity will help me survive while studying abroad and my awareness of social problems will contribute in my career as a journalist.

The story above pretty much sums up what I learn from AIESEC and my passion for IGCDP. From this workload AIESEC has given me, I am in the process of knowing myself. I have a few reasons why finally become the VP.  I want to provide people a volunteer experience which not only qualified but also inspiring.  I want to help many people to understand this organization is not just about exchange but it able to develop them. Last but not least, I want to spread positive impact to the society. This might sound cliché for you, but not for me. As I’ve seen the smile on the children’s face or the excitement of Bandung people when they are encountered with the exchange participants. This is particularly why I choose IGCDP. I know that IGCDP might not have the biggest impact, but it has the indirect impact to the organizing committees, exchange participants, partners, and society.  I believe that even the smallest thing can be big if it's executed sustainably and consistently.

a glimpse of a small village in garut

This might be the first time your heard about Samudrajaya, a village located alongside the Rancabuaya Beach. The village which is located in the South itself takes 4 hours roadtrip from Garut city.Samudrajaya was formed 3 years ago. They were part of Caringin Village, but due to imbalanced governance, Samudrajaya is finally given their own otonomy. As a student in University of Padjadjaran, I must finish my 30 days community service in this village. Our aim is to learn from the community and create social mapping. Here we go, 20 students from different faculties attempt to observe the problems in this small remoted area.I actually live in front of the beach.

This village is parted into 4 districts. I lived in District 1 which is located in the roadside. But District 2, 3, and 4 are located 45 minutes up to the hill. The terrain is steep and narrow. And worse, the road is rocky and dangerous. Somehow the government has not done anything about it yet. I actually heard rumors from the people of the village itself that the government has given fund to repair the road. But it got into the pocket of some irresponsible people. Can you imagine hundreds of people live without clear access to their area? Everyday, the men go downhill with motorcycle or truck. They are bringing overweight loads to be sold in the city which is so dangerous. Their job is mostly farmers and fisherman, the rest work in another city or even in other countries as TKI. Besides ricefields, they have this very rich resources of cornfield. The nature is honestly breathtaking as you can see hills, greenfields, beaches, and rivers altogether.    

The education in this area is really sad. They only have 3 elementary schools and 2 middle schools which have no easy access at all. I walk the rocky and bumpy road for almost 30 minutes to get there. Moreover, they dont have any high school nearly. This village does not really have much public transportation. Only 1 minibus once a day which goes right away to Garut. Otherwise, you can take Ojek with quite an expensive price due to the distance of each place. I went to 2 elementary schools. On the first one, the building has not finished yet. They do not have windows and door. So when the rain comes, the water will leak inside. The second school is decent but very dirty. Both have same problem: They are lack of teacher resources. Mostly the teacher comes late or does not come at all because they have another job to cover their living. The headmaster even ask us to teach because when we come the students were left with nothing to do. Due to the change in curriculum, the school needs to change the books. And they are still waiting for the fund from government. While waiting, all they can do is teach the basic lesson. Surely, they dont have english teacher. Why would they?

I will give my view as a English Major student. Initially, i was really excited to see how far the students here have known English. I have this expectation that they must have been hungry for english but have lack of resources. Since I was born, I have this mindset that English is really important if you want to be successful and considered. I am obsessed with English, I have native speaker teachers since elementary school. Unlike me, others student might have put English Major as their last option. Last year, I went to Poland for a 6 weeks voluntary program in a small village. I taught English to kindergarten children for the sake of my fondness of English. Back to the village, The kids does not aware at all of how importat english is. The elementary students barely know how to talk Indonesian. Sundanese is their first language. For the middle school, i dont see that much interest on study english. I mean, they dont even dare to dream of going to university due to distance and tuition problem. The teacher does give a few basic lesson of english but i dont think they take it seriously. I once asked the 7th grader,  “ How old are you?” And their answer was “ I’m fine, thank you. And you?”. I got really sad at that time and encourage them to learn English. They questioned to me of why they need english. Nevertheless, I also questioned that. Here in big cities, we have technology that require us to understand english. We have job opportunities that related with international world. We have movies, songs, and many other entertainment in english. And most importantly, we dare to dream of going outside this country. On the other side, these students dont need english to finish high school, to help their parents, or to get a job. Furthermore when almost all the important figures in the village speaks sundanese better than bahasa.

As much as i want this village to get all the facilities they deserve, i realize  not all of them ready to embrace it. For a few cases, i find that the people still reluctant with technology. My interview with the staff of the only Posyandu (health care) in the village tells me that the pregnant woman still prefer to do the labor with Mantri. Sadly, if they need to do caesar operation, these women must get in the truck and go through 45 minutes downhill followed with another 45 minutes to the nearest hospital. Eventho the posyandu provide anti-biotic, the people choose to buy illegal medicine from the weekly market when they are sick.Same problems happens with the farmers. There is an occasional education from the government. They are taught about farming system. I talk to one of the ricefielowner who successfully follows the system despite the fact she has to sacrifice a bit of her land.But her fellow farmer simply thinks it’s a waste of land For you info, the fields area in this village still has no legal certification for the farmer. It still belongs to the government which mean it can be taken from them anytime. 

This village can be said as a newborn baby. They are still trying to build a steady system and structure. Even the kantor kepala desa are still not finished yet. But my questions is how many of this kind of village in all over Indonesia? In java, who is known for it's advance infrastruture than any other island. This community service had me realized that things are still sad for Indonesia. And we who live in big cities can barely see a bit of it. Of the suffering and unfairness. I did help them with some charity, but i realize that i must write this down. Hoping that it would raise anyone's awareness and conscience about our country.