Volunteer Indonesia Earthquake

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Volunteer Indonesia Earthquake

A question was sent to me from a reader, I am posting it and answer.

----- Original Message -----
Dear Andy, please could you give me some advice, I would like to go over to Indonesia to help the people after the terrible earthquake, I have never volunteered before and have never backpacked so I need a few pointers! Are there any organizations that I can go over with? As I have very few qualifications and no real profession Im not really sure if I can do much but I really want to help.
Thanks very much from Gina, England

ANSWER:

Hello Gina,
Very difficult question.
If I was going to Volunteer, it would be difficult.
The Red Cross is the only organization to me, that appears safe, however they like any organization has problems.

If you wish to come and volunteer, I suppose you need to get on a plane to Solo Indonesia.

If you wish, I can meet you and help you search for an organization, it would be a fun blog or posting.
Andy on the way to Solo.

Look at this map.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/2006/05/map-of-indonesia.html

I am flying from Katmandu to Bangkok and will be in Solo on the 1st of June.
I am going to Mount Merapi also to see the Volcano.

In this type of venture, I try to think of the Hindu saying of - Ahimsa -
- First do no harm -

Note that asking a million questions is not part of the solution, it can be part of the problem.
Andy

NOTE: Forgot to say to her, Earthquakes cause homes to collapse, therefore a shortage of sleeping is for sure a problem. I have equipment to sleep outside, to me this is standard operating procedure. I am always prepared to sleep outside, I use a poncho as tent, and a hammock as bed.

Volunteer Indonesia Earthquake

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Reader Submitted Comments | Deleted Comments (0)

ash said on Wednesday May 31st, 2006 04:31:00 AM

When I travelled, I always had a survival bag and a 'space blanket' (really thin silver plastic sheet thing which is designed by nasa or soemthing stupid, but only cost $2).Luckily, I never had to sleep outside. When I was trekking, our guide was worried we wouldn't make the town by nightfall and that he wouldn't be able to pick out the trail in the dark. I could not get him to explain why he is afraid of the woods in the dark. We were not in Maoist country. To my mind, the danger would probably be some wild Yak going on a rampage. But as our distant ancestors discovered, animals do not like fire. For sure, I know my english woods are not at all dangerous. Your only danger there is from a mob of drunk teenagers who've found some fireworks. But I know Nepal doesn't have much dangerous wildlife, because the guiode told us this before, and the climate is very much like home- indeed, aside from monkies and Yaks, the natural world could have been in England [if a bit closer to sea level]So I do wonder at this. I do not fear the woods by night. I have tools to make fire, and knowledge about making fire. I have shelter and warm clothes, and I can figure out which plants to eat sometimes too. I am suprised my guide cannot do this.

Cathy - Jakarta said on Thursday June 1st, 2006 09:26:00 AM

Dear Andy, I'm an Indonesian in Jakarta and helping to collect charity in my church to help ppl in Jogja. If you know someone who need a local translator for forign volunteers in Jogja, I'm really willing to help more. Please feel free to contact me at cathywings@hotmail.com, then I'll fly there or drive there as soon as possible.Warm regards,Cathy

cathywings said on Thursday June 1st, 2006 09:35:00 AM

Ismail said on Saturday October 3rd, 2009 07:59:56 AM

Dear Sir/Madam,
First of all i will like you to kindly extend my heartfelt participation in the suffering of the dear populations struck by the tragic event and also the entire country.
I am very sad to hear about that tragedy and feel a sense of responsibility to help in the very little way i can. i will like you to help me enlist as a volunteer in any organization that can guarantee the safety of foreigners.

I am going to attend a trade fair in Indonesia on the 27th/10/09 to 1st/11/09 and will like to take that oppurtunity to help victims of the earthquake while i am in Indonesian,i feel bad that my stay will be for just 3 days but i hope to make a difference.
Please kindly help me get an organization that is willing to take a volunteer for 3 days, Thank you.