Giving Back To Jakarta ExtravagANZA Coffee Morning
Friday, 15 November 2019, 10.00 am
To live in and out of a suitcase is one of the many disadvantages of living and working overseas over a long period of time, especially when you have to travel extensively from one place to another. On the other hand, expatriate/diplomatic lifestyle can also be very rewarding if you welcome the opportunity to live in a different country and experience different cultures, learn about the history, arts, local cuisines, traditions, festive and religious practice.
When we live overseas, we not only widen our knowledge and social experience, we also strengthen our resilience and determination to adjust to our new environment. Very often, the challenges we face when we are living overseas ultimately enriching our lives and make us a better person. Not forgetting that we also take away with us many other positive experiences especially our connections with people and places, such as great friendship, social bonding, fond memories of special places etc. However, we also must remember to give back to the local community during our stay.
On 15 November 2019, ANZA Jakarta hosted a special Social Welfare ExtravagANZA coffee morning, to introduce the different social welfare activities that their members can get involve and contribute back to the local communities.
ANZA supports up to 17 different local organisations (known as Yayasan), including local schools, orphanages, learning centres community centres for kids and the elderly, and centres for people who are differently-abled. ANZA also have a Student Sponsorship Program and Medical Sponsorship Program. The Yayasan work with their communities and does some of the most amazing work to improve the lives of the local communities. The ANZA Social Welfare Program supports the Yayasan through financial support, volunteering and donations of goods and supplies. Currently, the ANZA Social Welfare Committee consists of 14 members, who volunteer their time, expertise and skills to help to coordinate these different projects.
At the Giving Back To Jakarta ExtravagANZA Coffee Morning, I am very honoured to be invited to present the Women Helping Women, Fashion Charity Parade and Cocktail Reception project to their members. There are many ways to contribute back to the local community. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to be in Jakarta to accompany my partner on his work posing and live here for three years (2017-2019), as much as we have had a fruitful time both living and working in this amazing country, this charity event is a personal project, and it is our way to express our gratitude. All funds that we have raised from the event is donated to SAPA Institute (Sentra Advokasi Perempuan dan Anak – Advocacy Centre for Women and Children). SAPA is one of the partners of MAMPU (Australia – Indonesia Partnership for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment). We are very lucky to have the support of the Australia Embassy community, particularly from Allaster Cox, Duty Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Jakarta,
Last but not least, a big thank you to Zani Van Staden, ANZA Social Welfare Director, who has not only participated in the charity fashion parade but also for inviting me to be part of theExtravagANZA Coffee Morning.