East Flores - Part 5 My experience in the field - 1

Ever since I've joined Wahana Visi Indonesia as staff, I developed a dream to work in the field. I was always wondering what it would be like to be working closely with the communities in need, how to interact, how to understand them, how to help them, how they will welcome me, etc..

Let me tell you first why I have more and more interest on working closely with communities.

During my first 2 years work in Wahana Visi, I actually worked behind desk, doing  kind of administrative work. I worked with National Resources Department, a Department that takes care of the Indonesian people who have big hearts to give investment to the children where Wahana Visi Indonesia work in a program we called Child Sponsorship Program. I'm in charge on handling data of the children listed for local sponsor program. So basically, I have to make sure that data provided is accurate and valid and in order to do that, I have to work closely with the people in the field whether there's discrepancy and everything. In short, I would say that my position is in the middle between the children and sponsor.

Luckily for me, this organization also provided me with opportunities to visit area where local sponsor funded so I really knew what's going on in the field and most important thing is I learned how Wahana Visi Indonesia worked through all the programs.

That's why I'm more and more interested to work in the field.

Then the opportunity came and the organization were looking for an environmental engineering to lead a water project in East Flores (NTT).. Wow, sounds really interested. and yes, I am an environmental engineering and I learned about clean water project and how to handle it, although it's still from my theoritical background. 

In short, I was accepted and assigned in East Flores at Dec 1, 2005. One of my dreams is come true...

And my first task is supervising pipe installation until finish according to the plan and budget.

And the people in the field have already started half of it with their own plan. So what I do first is to gather all the information they had and make sure that it is still following the plan and budget.

Actually, for me as a woman, being a leader in this project with most of the committee and staff handling are men is kind intimidating (for me), because I didn't know that I will be welcomed, or I will be capable enough to lead all the mens to follow the plan and everything... But I say in my heart... no use of feeling intimidated, I've already chose this work, just tried to do my best whatever I can. and the most important one is trying so hard not to look for other's perception or saying.. just focus that this is work, do proffesionally, etc

After I started to work, my fear was gone. And of course, at first, it will need many adjustments from me or the communities. At the beginning, I really depends on our local field fasilitators. They've been with the communities from the beginning so everytime I want to do something, I discuss with these local staff what is the best way to do this with communities, etc, etc..

Second, I thought the best I can get along to work with the communities is to be with them as much as I can while they're doing the installation. It means that I tried to be there 3 times a week, actually not to supervise them, but try to get some input or discuss what happen in the field, how is their struggle, and so on.

So basically I did both of them in the beginning...

And it really worked.

Like when I have the decision to reroute the pipe installation to make it run better, my fellow staff was there to help me explain to the representatives of communities.. I was so grateful then the reaction from communities were good, part of it I believe because communities already trusted the staff that have been working for them for years. The people must believe that these staff try to give the best for them and sometimes the best is to do things differently.

And also I feel the more I've been with them, the more I feel welcomed by the people.

I have so much experience and stories to tell about this...

Because I am a woman, I was not allowed to help them carry the pipe and do anything with the installation. So what can I do? I just followed wherever the installation happened... Yes, just following them around the pipe installation... What I do beside following them? I ate (snacks and lunch provided) hahahaha and talk and chat...(don't you feel that the organization probably hire the wrong person? hihihi)

But actually I felt those kind of activity really attached me to the whole communities benefited from the project. Why I said that? 

First, about eating.. In the culture of people in East Flores, they would be happy and try at their best to provide meals to their guests.. and for installation work, the meals were provided for the local technician and WV Staff and they will take turn between hamlet to provide the meals. 

When I first came to the work, the ladies who cooked become wondering, would this lady from the city accept the meals provided, because it's just a simple meal no fancy or like a city food or something.. 

And when I ate it good, they feel so much relieved and they told one of the staff that they feel so appreciated that I eat their meal until finish.

Actually for me, it's just a habit I brought from home. Appreciate the one who did the hard work cooking by eating and finishing it.. and for me, the food there are delicious, why should I not eat? hahahhaha and you know, if you eat in restaurant, you probably will get the same menu again and again... but if the ladies were cooking, you will have different menu everyday... why should I miss the opportunity?

One more thing, I am lucky that I am not the people who cannot eat if the place or the plate is not clean enough.. what can you expect when they cook in the middle of the field? I believe they tried very hard to make it clean, so appreciate it. and I thought they saw it and we began to develop good relationship and you bet, they try to provide more variety or special food if they have the chance... 

After the meal, the chat became more easier...

Actually, during my work in the field, I found another passion in my life, people. I like to observe people by talking with them, their mindset, their habit, what is the thing that make them do what they do, etc, etc and I found it will be easier for me to adjust the program to fulfill the need of the communities, rather than pushed a program to them and later on will be rejected..So yes, at first, I am more quiet, not much talk, because I want to learn the situation first, but after became closer through lunches together, I could talk and ask about what I want to know without like I'm interviewing them

In the next post, I will tell some unique stories I experience