One Month at the Jakarta centre

Living and working in the IHF centre in Jakarta for one month was a fantastic experience and a real eye opener. It was the first time I had travelled outside of Europe on my own but as soon as I arrived at the centre both the staff and in house children made me feel very welcome, making it easy for me to settle in.

The centre operates as both an orphanage and school, my primary role as a volunteer was to teach English to the children. I found this both a challenging and rewarding experience. Communication with the younger children was quite difficult, I would definitely recommend trying to learn a few basic Indonesia phrases before arriving at the centre to make teaching easier.

As English is my mother tongue I was primarily teaching the older (high school) children. These children came to the centre eager to learn making them very attentive. They were an absolute pleasure to teach and I am glad to say that I still keep in contact with some of the children.

I would recommend volunteering with IHF to anyone who wants a rewarding experience working with young persons. Leaving the centre after growing close to all the children can be upsetting though so have your tissues at the ready.