Chelwood Bridge Rotary Club

ROTARY DISTRICT 1200 GSE VISIT TO DISTRICT 3400 INDONESIA - 22 APRIL TO 24 MAY 2008

The GSE Team comprised:

Rotarian Hugo Pike PHF, Team Leader - PP RC of Chelwood Bridge
Sarah Lambert, 28 years, Marketing Manager, combined retail and tourist centre, Weymouth – sponsored by the RC of Dorchester
Daniel Lyus, 27 years, Mental Health Commissioning Manager, Wiltshire County Council – sponsored by the RC of Wessex Mead
Katy Menday, 31 years, Countryside Sites Manager, South Somerset District Council – sponsored by the RC of Yeovil
Sandy Padgett, 40 years, Chief Superintendent (West Somerset District), Avon & Somerset Constabulary – sponsored by the RC of Wells

Between early November, 2007 and April, 2008 the team met at fortnightly intervals to plan and prepare for the visit. In addition to the usual organisational issues the team undertook basic language training in Bahasa Indonesia, cultural orientation, and individual research projects related to Indonesia and Rotary -including Rotary Foundation, RIBI, District and Club.

Throughout the visit the team remained highly motivated and committed to gaining maximum benefit from this unique experience. As intended their professional skills were enhanced and their horizons expanded. The variety of cultural and social aspects provided a wide range of insights into the country and its peoples and the vocational elements of the programme had been well planned taking into account the particular roles and interests of the team members.

All team members were excellent ambassadors for our Rotary District, their employers and our country.

OVERVIEW

The visit extended over five weeks and proved to match and in many respects exceed even our most optimistic expectations. In my own case re-visiting Java after an absence of 25 years was a genuine pleasure and for all of us the warmth and generosity of our Rotary hosts was quite exceptional. Surabaya in East Java (Indonesia’s second city with a population of some 4 million) was our main base, although we also spent some time in Yogyakarta (Central Java) and attended the District Conference held in Semarang (Central Java).

The programme arranged for us provided a tremendous variety of cultural, social and vocational experiences. Our host clubs and families represented the ethnic and religious mix that is Indonesia. Host families included Muslim, Christian (Catholic and Protestant), and Buddhist adherents, all of whom were happy to talk about their faith and often to involve us in attending services or visiting their churches, temples or mosques.

Indonesia has a population of some 260 million people and includes more than 13,000 islands (the archipelago is 3,500 miles from east to west) with some 400 distinct ethnic groups each with their own language or dialect. It was for centuries a Dutch colony and only gained independence after 1945 following a series of battles with the Dutch and their British allies. For the following 50 years firstly President Soekarno and then President Soeharto provided the firm leadership and direction the emerging nation needed. The five guiding principles enshrined in the constitution are designed to achieve ‘Unity through Diversity’ and include a national language (Bahasa Indonesia) and a policy of religious tolerance. The move to a democratically elected President in recent years is said by many to have slowed the rate of progress and resulted in a loss of direction!

PROGRAMME

WEEK 1 – First night in hotel apartment helped us get over the journey via Hong Kong – then allocated to host families (RC of Surabaya); Visits to the Police HQ covering the whole of East Java (population 33 million); Java Post (national newspaper published in Surabaya); Java TV; Interview with leading criminal lawyer; home for deaf children*; Managing Director of Galaxy Mall (re marketing); transferred to new host families (RC of Surabaya Selatan).

WEEK 2 – Visits to Home for children of unwed mothers*; Construction Industry Conference in Batu; (RC of Surabaya Darmo); SOGO Department Store (re marketing); (handover to RC of Surabaya Timur); attended wedding ceremony in Surabaya Catholic Cathedral (groom was Catholic and bride was Protestant); day visit to tea plantation

WEEK 3 – Visits to recycling centre; Barong Dance; Kecak Dance; (transfer to RC of Surabaya Central); School for children with physical handicap*; (transfer to RC of Surabaya Kaliasin – an all female club); Sophomore International School (principal was Indonesia’s International Entrepreneur in 2004); Balongsari Health Centre*; elementary school where Rotary Club had paid for library*

WEEK 4 – Visit to Surabaya Zoological Gardens; transfer to Yogyakarta in Central Java – (hosted by families from local Rotary Clubs); visit to Bantul area (epicentre of 2006 earthquake – links to our Water-Survival Box project)*; workshop for handicapped people*; lunch meeting with local Police District Commander; Ramayana ballet (Hindu folklore); Sultan’s Palace; Borobudur Buddhist Temple (9th century) World Heritage Site – transfer to Semarang in Central Java to attend District 3400 Annual Conference – and give presentation re GSE visit;

WEEK 5 – return to Surabaya (new hosts RC of Surabaya Jembatan Merah); visit to Rotary Clinic*; day trip to Trowulan to witness the main Buddhist celebration of the year (Waisak); Cheng Hoo (Chinese Muslim) Mosque; (transfer to RC of Surabaya Metropolitan); visits to see newly installed clean water systems in three elementary schools funded by RC of Surabaya Metropolitan, RC of Surabaya Rungkut and the RC of Hoorn in Holland*; visit to Lapindo (scene of man-made disaster - More than 15,000 people have been displaced since late May 2006, when the firm PT Lapindo Brantas apparently hit an underground mud volcano while drilling a gas well at a depth of 3,000 metres. The oozing sludge, which has caused Indonesia's worst environmental disaster, has spread over more than 600 hectares and inundated villages, factories, railway tracks and toll roads) - transfer to Tretes hill resort – then to see daybreak over Mount Bromo (active volcano); visit to Kaliendra nature park with hands on batik creation and gamelan orchestra instruments

* request for funding support

IMPRESSIONS

What follows is a sequence of cryptic comments that give just a flavour of the impressions we gained:

People - industrious and inventive – motor cycles everywhere – driving skills to rival Evil Knievel – agricultural activity on virtually all suitable land – rice paddies, cotton, corn, etc – fresh vegetables and fruit – wholesale night market and morning (retail) market for fresh commodities – better off families have a number of maids who did the cooking, cleaning and laundry – chauffeur to drive – one professional family would typically employ from 4 to 6 other people.

Religions – we stayed with Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant Rotary families – visited mosques, temples, churches – each seemingly respecting the others faith – the ethnic and religious mix seemed to be fully integrated within specific neighbourhoods

Climate – equatorial – 30 to 35 degrees Celsius every day – high humidity – dry season with rain on no more than three days out of 32 - people shower twice or three times daily

Colours and sounds – traditional costumes – music – gamelan orchestras – allegorical plays taken from Hindu folklore featuring puppets or dancers some dressed as princes and princesses and others as larger than life animals, lions (barong), monkeys (kecak), etc.

Food – Indonesian, Javanese, Surabayan, Maduran, Balinese, Chinese, Japanese, and even the occasional Steak House or McDonalds! So many excellent cuisines, from subtle flavours to ‘set your digestive system on fire’.

Drink – almost entirely non-alcoholic. Great variety from the ubiquitous ‘Teh Botel’ to coca cola and many varieties of fruit flavoured drinks. Drink associated violence and drink-driving problems are almost unknown!

Schools – almost unbelievably good – pupils all dressed in freshly laundered uniform – happy – keen to learn – well disciplined – teachers also in uniform and obviously respected and attended to.

Problems – lack of clean drinking water eg in schools as well as in homes – lack of adequate waste water management systems – lack of basic health care except for those who can afford to pay – limited access to education and learning. All things we take for granted and in UK are provided by national or local government and the major utilities. A further national problem is endemic corruption in much of the public sector including government, local government, etc.

ROTARY PROJECTS

Impressive range of life-saving or life-enhancing projects often filling the gap in provision of basic amenities. These include clean drinking water for schools and rural communities; toilets for schools; waste management systems; health clinic; school libraries; etc. Most schools and rural communities still lack these amenities.

A total of 10 project proposals have been submitted seeking funding support, whether on a Club-to-Club basis or by way of Matching grant. These will be given careful consideration and a schedule prepared for the information of the District 1200 Executive Team. Given the potential for saving lives and enhancing the conditions in which children and adults live I hope all Clubs will consider including one of these projects in their International Service programme for 2008/9. Having been able to meet so many members of the Rotary Clubs in the Surabaya and Yogyakarta areas I am confident that whatever funding support we might provide will be properly managed and dedicated to the purposes intended. I would be pleased to oversee whatever project support plans can be progressed and act as the focal point for liaison with the appropriate Rotary Clubs in East and Central Java.

Sunrise over Mount Bromo with Mount Seremu in the distance

Report prepared by: Hugo Pike


The GSE Team comprised: Rotarian Hugo Pike PHF, Team Leader - PP RC of Chelwood Bridge Sarah Lambert, 28 years, Marketing Manager, combined retail and tourist centre, Weymouth – sponsored by the RC of Dorchester Daniel Lyus, 27 years, Mental Health Commissioning Manager, Wiltshire County Council – sponsored by the RC of Wessex Mead Katy Menday, 31 years, Countryside Sites Manager, South Somerset District Council – sponsored by the RC of Yeovil Sandy Padgett, 40 years, Chief Superintendent (West Somerset District), Avon & Somerset Constabulary – sponsored by the RC of Wells Between early November, 2007 and April, 2008 the team met at fortnightly intervals to plan and prepare for the visit. In addition to the usual organisational issues the team undertook basic language training in Bahasa Indonesia, cultural orientation, and individual research projects related to Indonesia and Rotary -including Rotary Foundation, RIBI, District and Club. Throughout the visit the team remained highly motivated and committed to gaining maximum benefit from this unique experience. As intended their professional skills were enhanced and their horizons expanded. The variety of cultural and social aspects provided a wide range of insights into the country and its peoples and the vocational elements of the programme had been well planned taking into account the particular roles and interests of the team members. All team members were excellent ambassadors for our Rotary District, their employers and our country. OVERVIEW The visit extended over five weeks and proved to match and in many respects exceed even our most optimistic expectations. In my own case re-visiting Java after an absence of 25 years was a genuine pleasure and for all of us the warmth and generosity of our Rotary hosts was quite exceptional. Surabaya in East Java (Indonesia’s second city with a population of some 4 million) was our main base, although we also spent some time in Yogyakarta (Central Java) and attended the District Conference held in Semarang (Central Java). The programme arranged for us provided a tremendous variety of cultural, social and vocational experiences. Our host clubs and families represented the ethnic and religious mix that is Indonesia. Host families included Muslim, Christian (Catholic and Protestant), and Buddhist adherents, all of whom were happy to talk about their faith and often to involve us in attending services or visiting their churches, temples or mosques. Indonesia has a population of some 260 million people and includes more than 13,000 islands (the archipelago is 3,500 miles from east to west) with some 400 distinct ethnic groups each with their own language or dialect. It was for centuries a Dutch colony and only gained independence after 1945 following a series of battles with the Dutch and their British allies. For the following 50 years firstly President Soekarno and then President Soeharto provided the firm leadership and direction the emerging nation needed. The five guiding principles enshrined in the constitution are designed to achieve ‘Unity through Diversity’ and include a national language (Bahasa Indonesia) and a policy of religious tolerance. The move to a democratically elected President in recent years is said by many to have slowed the rate of progress and resulted in a loss of direction! PROGRAMME WEEK 1 – First night in hotel apartment helped us get over the journey via Hong Kong – then allocated to host families (RC of Surabaya); Visits to the Police HQ covering the whole of East Java (population 33 million); Java Post (national newspaper published in Surabaya); Java TV; Interview with leading criminal lawyer; home for deaf children; Managing Director of Galaxy Mall (re marketing); transferred to new host families (RC of Surabaya Selatan). WEEK 2 – Visits to Home for children of unwed mothers; Construction Industry Conference in Batu; (RC of Surabaya Darmo); SOGO Department Store (re marketing); (handover to RC of Surabaya Timur); attended wedding ceremony in Surabaya Catholic Cathedral (groom was Catholic and bride was Protestant); day visit to tea plantation WEEK 3 – Visits to recycling centre; Barong Dance; Kecak Dance; (transfer to RC of Surabaya Central); School for children with physical handicap; (transfer to RC of Surabaya Kaliasin – an all female club); Sophomore International School (principal was Indonesia’s International Entrepreneur in 2004); Balongsari Health Centre; elementary school where Rotary Club had paid for library* WEEK 4 – Visit to Surabaya Zoological Gardens; transfer to Yogyakarta in Central Java – (hosted by families from local Rotary Clubs); visit to Bantul area (epicentre of 2006 earthquake – links to our Water-Survival Box project); workshop for handicapped people; lunch meeting with local Police District Commander; Ramayana ballet (Hindu folklore); Sultan’s Palace; Borobudur Buddhist Temple (9th century) World Heritage Site – transfer to Semarang in Central Java to attend District 3400 Annual Conference – and give presentation re GSE visit; WEEK 5 – return to Surabaya (new hosts RC of Surabaya Jembatan Merah); visit to Rotary Clinic; day trip to Trowulan to witness the main Buddhist celebration of the year (Waisak); Cheng Hoo (Chinese Muslim) Mosque; (transfer to RC of Surabaya Metropolitan); visits to see newly installed clean water systems in three elementary schools funded by RC of Surabaya Metropolitan, RC of Surabaya Rungkut and the RC of Hoorn in Holland; visit to Lapindo (scene of man-made disaster - More than 15,000 people have been displaced since late May 2006, when the firm PT Lapindo Brantas apparently hit an underground mud volcano while drilling a gas well at a depth of 3,000 metres. The oozing sludge, which has caused Indonesia's worst environmental disaster, has spread over more than 600 hectares and inundated villages, factories, railway tracks and toll roads) - transfer to Tretes hill resort – then to see daybreak over Mount Bromo (active volcano); visit to Kaliendra nature park with hands on batik creation and gamelan orchestra instruments * request for funding support IMPRESSIONS What follows is a sequence of cryptic comments that give just a flavour of the impressions we gained: People - industrious and inventive – motor cycles everywhere – driving skills to rival Evil Knievel – agricultural activity on virtually all suitable land – rice paddies, cotton, corn, etc – fresh vegetables and fruit – wholesale night market and morning (retail) market for fresh commodities – better off families have a number of maids who did the cooking, cleaning and laundry – chauffeur to drive – one professional family would typically employ from 4 to 6 other people. Religions – we stayed with Muslim, Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant Rotary families – visited mosques, temples, churches – each seemingly respecting the others faith – the ethnic and religious mix seemed to be fully integrated within specific neighbourhoods Climate – equatorial – 30 to 35 degrees Celsius every day – high humidity – dry season with rain on no more than three days out of 32 - people shower twice or three times daily Colours and sounds – traditional costumes – music – gamelan orchestras – allegorical plays taken from Hindu folklore featuring puppets or dancers some dressed as princes and princesses and others as larger than life animals, lions (barong), monkeys (kecak), etc. Food – Indonesian, Javanese, Surabayan, Maduran, Balinese, Chinese, Japanese, and even the occasional Steak House or McDonalds! So many excellent cuisines, from subtle flavours to ‘set your digestive system on fire’. Drink – almost entirely non-alcoholic. Great variety from the ubiquitous ‘Teh Botel’ to coca cola and many varieties of fruit flavoured drinks. Drink associated violence and drink-driving problems are almost unknown! Schools – almost unbelievably good – pupils all dressed in freshly laundered uniform – happy – keen to learn – well disciplined – teachers also in uniform and obviously respected and attended to. Problems – lack of clean drinking water eg in schools as well as in homes – lack of adequate waste water management systems – lack of basic health care except for those who can afford to pay – limited access to education and learning. All things we take for granted and in UK are provided by national or local government and the major utilities. A further national problem is endemic corruption in much of the public sector including government, local government, etc. ROTARY PROJECTS Impressive range of life-saving or life-enhancing projects often filling the gap in provision of basic amenities. These include clean drinking water for schools and rural communities; toilets for schools; waste management systems; health clinic; school libraries; etc. Most schools and rural communities still lack these amenities. A total of 10 project proposals have been submitted seeking funding support, whether on a Club-to-Club basis or by way of Matching grant. These will be given careful consideration and a schedule prepared for the information of the District 1200 Executive Team. Given the potential for saving lives and enhancing the conditions in which children and adults live I hope all Clubs will consider including one of these projects in their International Service programme for 2008/9. Having been able to meet so many members of the Rotary Clubs in the Surabaya and Yogyakarta areas I am confident that whatever funding support we might provide will be properly managed and dedicated to the purposes intended. I would be pleased to oversee whatever project support plans can be progressed and act as the focal point for liaison with the appropriate Rotary Clubs in East and Central Java. Sunrise over Mount Bromo with Mount Seremu in the distance Report prepared by: Hugo Pike