April 13, 2012
Indonesia
Jan Graubner, archbishop of Olomouc representing the activities of Caritas Czech Republic during the Czech Bishops’ Conference, together with Oldřich Haičman, director of Caritas Czech Republic, are currently on their mission in Indonesia visiting the ongoing projects there. Read Oldřich Haičman’s observations about their trip:
A day full of negotiations
Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday 17 April 2012
In Jakarta, we participated in a couple of formal negotiations. First of all, we were accepted by the representatives of the Ministry of social affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (KEMENSOS). We had a very useful discussion with the Advisor to the Minister who was thoroughly versed in all aspects of the Indonesian social sector. He informed us about the country’s priorities: the Ministry aims its support primarily at the family level, since family members themselves should be able to take care of their disadvantaged relatives. Secondly, , they aim to support community (including non-governmental non-profit organizations). And their third priority is to support the state, which is responsible for granting and fulfilling the need of social services, similar to the Czech Republic.
The concept of building a welfare state is understood in the same way inboth the Czech Republic and in Indonesia. The main goal is to invest state money in the social sphere and to provide financial support to those who are able to properly perform the social work. The Advisor to the Minister assured us that the Ministry will continue to support the project of Caritas CR in Aceh.
Another official meeting was held in the residence of the Bishops’ conference of Indonesia. Representatives of the local charity, called Caritas Indonesia Karina, including their new director, communication representative and financial manager were present at the meeting. It was proposed that Caritas CR would arrange and mediate the humanitarian aid from the Czech Republic to Caritas Karina. In Indonesia, there are 37 dioceses, out of which 23 run their own charity organizations. Karina’s representatives wished to support the activities of the individual charities, and that is why we discussed particular projects that could involve these Indonesian charity organizations.
Caritas Indonesia Karina is a young charity organization founded in 2007. It is currently broadening its experience and drawing on the projects and activities of other world charities. Its workers aim their help at poverty stricken people, disadvantaged families and individuals. The greatest problem in Indonesia is the lack of readiness to face catastrophes, the natural ones in particular. Last week, for instance, the west of Sumatra Island was hit by an 8.7 earthquake. That is why people from Karina try to prepare the locals for natural disasters by enhancing the logistical cooperation across the country in order to make humanitarian aid supplies more accessible. Another serious problem on which Karina focuses its attention is street children. The organization, however, lacks financial support both from state and local administration, so they draw the funds mainly from external support.
In the evening, we accepted an invitation to the residence of a Czech Ambassador to Indonesia, Tomáš Smetánka. We met the Indonesian nuncio and former Indonesian Ambassador to the Czech Republic, who, in the 1960s, pursued his studies in the former Czechoslovakia and spoke very good Czech. Together with other guests, we discussed the strategy of conceiving future projects in Indonesia. The Ambassador expressed his interest in our activities, and on Wednesday, he even joined us on our journey to the province of Aceh, where the Caritas CR has been long operating, having its own office in the capital Banda Aceh.
