Hi everyone,
I am considering volunteering in Aceh. Anyone here know about how the situation in Aceh is like at the moment? Is it possible to just go there and hope to join an organization? Anyone have experience with volunteering in Aceh or any other parts of Indonesia??
Thanks in advance!

hi Vilna, it's really nice of you wanna be volunteer in Aceh. I guess you should join the NGO first or find info from NGO because my friends who became volunteers in Aceh also work for NGO. Where are you from?

^she's right. you'd better join an NGO or an IGO which has been active in Aceh. it'd make it easier for you to get through the administration processes there or elsewhere.
on the first question, Aceh will have its provincial and municipal elections on Dec. 11. some organizations have expressed interest to send monitoring teams there, but AFAIK there's only a couple organizations have been approved by the Independent Election Comittee. again AFAIK, there were some tense moments just like anywhere else in Indonesia nearing an election, but in general security is quite OK.

I just read an article today about a rapport from Oxfam saying that 25000 families in Aceh still dont have a place to live and that its still critical specially for the poorest.
Im Indonesian but I live in Europe. Im going to Indonesia on holidays in January and I was originally thinking of volunteering while I was there on holiday. But I havent had time to research the possibilities and challenges, so if I volunteer I have to do it next time Im in Indonesia. I also heard that to volunteer/live in Aceh (even just temporarily) you need to have an invitation either from private person or organization. I was originally thinking of just going there and hoping to find something, but it seems difficult.

ah I see. if you do look Indonesian, talk Indonesian and hold Indonesian citizenship it's probably not that difficult still, "just going there and hoping to find something" is absolutely not advised, esp. in times like these. invitation can be arranged if you have some right contacts --after all, help is still needed there.

btw, does anyone know where's cathy? fran, do u?

There is soemthing called the Responsible Travel dotcom which organises holidays where you volunteer to help out the Tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and thailand. I think they were featured BBC documentary recently too. I don't know if they have started something similar for Aceh. Most likely not yet, because of the political sensitivity between the Jakarta and Acehnese governments, it won't be easy to start somethiing like this in Aceh. But maybe you can also enquire with them apart from the NGOs like Oxfam who operate on the ground in Aceh.

I believe IHF sends volunteers to Aceh. Check out their website: http://ihfonline.org/locations/aceh?PHPSES...9b9fbd20f0d0026

I'm planning to go to Jakarta as an IHF volunteer.

Kudos to you Vilna...!!!

There're some areas in indonesia where the government has been pillaging and
destroying their people and resources, like in Acheh and Irian. These areas're
definitely in need of assistance and volunteers because we all know the government
has done virtually nothing to help them.

I know some friends who live and survive the tsunami, and if you'd like to get to know
some locals, let me know.

The situation in acheh is improving tremendously, and the regional election in the
area was quite peaceful and successful as well. To the chagrin of indonesian government,
the achenese elected one of the prominent ex-ASNLF [Acheh Sumatra National Liberation
Front aka GAM] to become their next governor. And, of course indonesian president was
so surprised and, using euphemism here, disappointed that he immediately held a
limited meeting with his ministers and close aides. At least, they didn't decide to bring
tanks and guns and declare the election null and void, thank God for all those observers
all over. At least, the military this time can have their mouth shut once and for all. You
better believe it, there're tons of aids and money still being earmarked for acheh, and
the corrupt military and government [also known collectively as the thiefs in uniform]
know there're a lot more money that they can steal. Even with billions of dollars donated
by people all over the world, thousands are still living in tents. Unbelievable. The calamity
was about two years ago, yet these people still suffer from the government ineptitudes.

The Leuser National Park in Acheh had been pillaged by the military of its timbers and natural
resources for years, and one would hope that the international community can help protect
this increasingly rare natural riches from the hand of the thiefs in uniform.

So, in your travel there in Acheh, you're among friends there. Good luck with your
volunteering. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for wanting to help the achenese
rebuild their lives there.

cheers.

tat

Wow, there's surely a brutal indictment of the Indo government and military there...
I'd expect Purnomor to respond to these sweeping statements?

What ur background is?
If you from psychology, maybe you can join with Pulih. Pulih is an unprofit foundation in Jakarta. My sis in law used to volunteering in Aceh by join wih Pulih. Here the site :
http://www.pulih.or.id/

It's really nice know you, Vilna and also Kresna to considering volunteering.
I wish i can volunteering too, but still have responsibility with my current job.

ANd yes, i think you also should try join to NGO like furan suggested.