What I feel in Exchange program for Lawyer in Philippines
I feel happy.
Happy because I get what I want. Happy because I get experience more than my
expectation before. I am so excited.
I am public
interest lawyer from Jakarta Legal Aid Institute. We provide legal aid for poor
people. Our legal aid purposed to change the policy became fairer.
I join the
exchange program for lawyer by Namati. Namati is NGO which office in Washington
DC. They have focus to develop paralegal system. In May 2015, they invite
lawyer for around the world to join exchange in Philippine and South Africa. I
became participant this program. I observe Philippine for almost 1 month.
My host is
Saligan. I met Dave and Ete from Saligan who are accompany us to observe NagaCity. Same with Jakarta Legal Aid,
Saligan also provide legal aid for many sector urban poor, labor, etc. I visit
at least 4 city in Philippine. They are Naga city, Legizpi, Quezon, Tacloban
city. I visit many communities in Philippines, I meet public officer, NGO, and
my host always surprised me with side trip in our journey. In Indonesia I focus
with urban poor issue, I hope I will understand more about condition urban poor
in the other country. I want to understand how urban poor empowerment, how they
can have sustainability advocacy.
Yes I get it. I
met a lot of urban poor paralegal, I make interview with them, explore how
exactly they work, and ask the leader what they teach to community, And Surprisingly
I get more than that. In Philippines, I read and research about their housing
law. And I make comparison between law in Indonesia and Philippines. I believe,
the research help me so much to improve advocacy in housing right in Jakarta
and Indonesia. And not just that, I learn about how governments engage with
people and NGO. I learn also about how good governance in Naga. I learn about
culture Pilipino. And the important I met new friend, Dave, Ete, Gigi, Carlo.
The most friendly public officer in Naga city. Learn about national advocacy
from ALG member Marlon, Rene, Lito and Junet. And more learn about right of
children in disaster reduction and women rights with my friend Borna from
BNWLA, Bangladesh, I learn about woman in Bangladesh also. Many more I can
write in this page all, hehe
I am so lucky
because my host Dave is lawyer in housing right/urban poor like me. He also is
housing board in his city. So I make his busy with a lot of questions. Thank
you so much for my host. My host always prepared everything and accompanies us
to serious activity and more fun activity. I recommended for next exchange, the
participant will get host with same issues with him. But the most important
thing is, if you join exchange keep your focus. Be foolish and stay hungry. Ask,
listen, write and reflection. Don’t underestimate every even in front of you.
You will get something if you want. And thank you for all who are support us in
Philippine.
0 comments:
Post a Comment