One Invitation, A World of Possibilities
Alex Dharmawan l Partner from Japan Airlines Jakarta Branch.
My name is Alex Dharmawan, and I work at the Japan Airlines Jakarta Branch. I have been volunteering at LP4Y since 2022.
At the time, I had been browsing the internet for volunteering opportunities, but with so many options available online, it was difficult to choose without anyone I knew to give me recommendations. I eventually put my search on hold. About four months later, a friend from university contacted me. She was working at an NGO called LP4Y. I thought, “Oh, I think this is it!” Without hesitation, I accepted her invitation to volunteer and planned a visit to the center Cilincing. The name was unfamiliar to me. Even though it is part of North Jakarta, the change of scenery after passing the Mall of Indonesia was quite shocking. I had seen places like this on television, but I never expected to be there myself. Behind the glamorous skyscrapers, many small houses stood right beneath the new highway construction. At first, I couldn’t understand why LP4Y had intentionally built its center in the heart of Cilincing.
I was welcomed by my friend, the other Catalysts, and the Youth. They had arranged a short tour of the center for me. Despite their nervousness, the Youth tried to explain everything in full English. I couldn’t help comparing myself to them. I had just started my first job, while some of them had already become mothers at a very young age, and all of them were working hard to improve their families’ financial situation.
I remember telling them to dream higher: “Dreaming is free, so dream as high as you want.”
After the tour, we had a small salon with the Youth. They introduced themselves one by one, but what left a lasting impression on me was when they shared their dreams. Listening to them, I felt mixed emotions. I could never have imagined myself in their position.
I remember telling them to dream higher: “Dreaming is free, so dream as high as you want.” What I hadn’t realized was that they were capable of dreaming higher. They simply didn’t know that they could. Their voices were filled with dreams and hopes of changing their lives, yet held down by their circumstances and environment. Even so, they did not give in. They kept striving for change with full determination.
And I wanted to support that “light.”
What started as a personal volunteering agenda grew into something much bigger. One of the Youth dreamed of becoming a flight attendant, and since I work for an airline, her coach discussed with me the possibility of expanding the volunteer work to include my colleagues. What I thought would be “let’s try a company visit first and maybe we can figure something out” has now become an annual event at our office.
My colleagues felt the same way I did on my first visit. Most of them grew up in Jakarta, yet they never knew this place existed in Cilincing. What began as mixed feelings turned into a strong desire to support the Youth’s determination.
It made us realize that the things we take for granted every day can be a completely new experience for someone else.
Our first company visit took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were not allowed to bring visitors to the airport. My colleagues and I worried that explaining aviation without showing the Youth a real airplane would bore them. But once again, the Youth’ reaction proved us wrong. They loved our office, which we had always found dull with its grey interior. They asked many questions about things we considered ordinary. They even
told us how much they enjoyed seeing Sudirman Avenue (the main financial and commercial hub of Central and South Jakarta), which we only ever think of as jammed and crowded. It made us realize that the things we take for granted every day can be a completely new experience for someone else.
Looking back, this series of coincidences created a ripple effect, starting with me and spreading to my colleagues. Now I understand why LP4Y chose Cilincing: it is exactly where these young people are. Connecting LP4Y and JAL is one of the best decisions I have ever made, and moving forward, I hope we can inspire others to do the same.
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