Yogyakarta, September 7th 2022─Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Fair 2022 is back on Wednesday (7/9) after a hiatus throughout the pandemic era. The event that was held by the Australian Consortium in Country Indonesia Studies (ACICIS) with the Global Engagement Office (GEO) Fisipol was filled with domestic and international students.
NGO Fair 2022 invited several non-governmental organizations in Yogyakarta to promote their program. “We invite several organizations, research centers, and non-governmental organizations to come, with the hopes that students can find the organization that they see fit, specifically for those who like volunteering or doing internships,” said Dhani Karuniawan as the ACICIS Program Coordinator. NGO Fair is not only a place for students to find their volunteering and internship place, it is also a place to introduce many activism movements in Indonesia. One example of them is the orangutan conservation movement, an endangered animal that is often hunted. This organization invites the student to know the importance of preserving the wildlife through socializations and brochures written in two languages. There are also movements to educate and protect sexual violence victims, introduction of village self sufficiency and products, as well as the protection and empowerment of children in underdeveloped regions.
“Before 2018, the location of the NGO Fair was not in Fisipol, there were also not many attendees because it was mostly from ACICIS students. Now that we are collaborating with GEO Fisipol UGM, we can have a more accessible fair that can reach a wider audience,” Dhani said. He added that this event is held so that students can be aware of Indonesia’s social aspect, culture, and nature, as well as increasing students’ volunteering spirit.
The uniqueness of the stands of each organization can be easily seen, so foreign students are excited to visit. Manar, one of the exchange students from Australia currently studying in the psychology faculty says that he likes being part of the event. “This is an interesting event for me. Here, I can meet many people. Even after going around for an hour, I haven’t felt bored yet,” he said while smiling and showing the stack of pamphlets he got after visiting various stands.