How Child Forum Has Inspired Me to be a Lawyer
Yuyun (22) recently graduated from the Faculty of Law, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi. This cheerful girl even received a cum laude predicate for her graduation. It is an outstanding achievement. Yuyun is from Tobelo, North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province which was also one of Wahana Visi Indonesia's assisted areas. Since childhood, Yuyun has been active in Children's Forum activities in her village. She was also a child sponsored by WVI since she was in the fourth grade of elementary school.
According to Yuyun, there were many positive activities that she participated in with WVI at that time which ultimately helped her development.
“When I was assisted by Wahana Visi in Tobelo, there were many activities that I certainly participated in. One of them is the Peer Educator called ‘Sahabat Sumber Informasi’ at the Child's Forum,” she said. It was an activity that encouraged children to actively disseminate positive information and encourage positive activities in their environment.
Those positive activities in the Children's Forum have shaped Yuyun's personality. In Child Forum, she could share her opinions and ideas; which enabled her to voice her opinion creatively and actively. Through Child Forum, Yuyun was chosen to participate in the ‘One Day with Minister’ activity in 2015 which was initiated by the Plan Indonesia Foundation.
“Well, from that activity, I was taught to train my leadership, especially for children in North Halmahera,” she continued.
According to Yuyun, this experience has also inspired her to continue fighting for the rights of children and women. Not only leading her peers at that time, but Yuyun also directly voiced her aspirations to the local government. In the end, she also continued his study at the Faculty of Law in 2018 because of this experience. Still, she wants to become an advocate so she can contribute more to her society.
“I learned a lot at my campus. I became aware of laws and regulations. I hope that after this I can take an advocate title, become a lawyer and serve back to my hometown in North Halmahera,” said Yuyun. Now, while waiting for the next process after graduation, Yuyun works temporarily in a contractor company in Makassar.
In addition, Yuyun stated that the support from sponsors also motivated her to study hard and be active in the Child's Forum. Yuyun was a sponsored child. Her sponsor was in Indonesia at that time. She even remembers his name and the impression when she first met the sponsor and his family.
“My sponsor at that time was Mr. Heru Prasetyo. I am very happy because I have parents outside there who willingly helped me. There were many assistances that I received. There were stationeries and school supplies. I also met him face-to-face in 2014,” said Yuyun again.
Yuyun admitted that all the experiences that she obtained from childhood, had shaped her into the tough person she is today. She also hopes that the children who are currently assisted by WVI can develop better through all WVI programs.
“Wahana Visi Indonesia pays attention to the rights of Indonesian children. I hope that Wahana Visi Indonesia will continue to love and fight for the rights of Indonesian children together," she concluded.
Written by Rena Tanjung, Communications Officer, Wahana Visi Indonesia
