15 Youths Attend a Workshop on Migrant Workers in Indonesia

15 Youths Attend a Workshop on Migrant Workers in Indonesia

The thematic workshops in Salatiga and Wonosobo, Indonesia, focused on "Understanding the problems of Indonesian migrant workers and their impact on their families."  A diverse group of 15 young people representing various faith traditions and regions of Indonesia joined the workshop. Retha Andoea, the NGS of Indonesia YMCA, organized the workshop with Indonesian ICF alumni led by Puansari Meilina Serigar and Edward Daniel Simamora. Annika Denkmann, the Bread for the World seconded personnel, introduced the work of the Interfaith Cooperation Forum (ICF), a project of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, that supported the thematic workshop.

The workshop aimed to help the participants understand the situation of migrant workers and carry out advocacy for their rights by accompanying them. The workshop also helped the attendees understand the concept of peace and the phenomenon of migration, considering people's religious and cultural differences.  The workshop had the following objectives:

1. Define the phenomenon of migration of workers abroad

2. Analyze the factors that push Indonesian workers, especially women, to work abroad.

3. Identify issues, challenges, and vulnerabilities migrant workers face in their home and destination countries.

4. Explore the phenomenon of migration in the sacred texts.

5. Explore how religious groups respond to the issues migrant workers face.

6. Listen to and document the stories of struggles of migrant workers, former migrant workers, and their families have faced or are still facing.

7. Propose ways to help potential migrant workers face the challenges in their destination  country.

Eni Lestari from Beranda Migran presented the challenges and vulnerabilities of migrant workers. Mulyadi of Migran Care Indonesia discussed the concepts of forced migration and the history of Indonesian migrant workers from a human rights perspective. Muriel Orevillo Montenegro facilitated the workshop and theological reflection on migration in the sacred texts of religions.

As part of the workshop, the participants visited Rogojati Village in Wonosobo, where most of the residents were former migrant workers. This practical fieldwork, which complemented the theoretical sessions, allowed the participants to engage in conversations with the residents. Through these interactions, the participants gained insights from the experiences of former migrant workers who had worked in countries with employers of different religious backgrounds.

After the village visit, the participants had a debriefing-reflection session. Edward Simamora presented his synthesis of the five-day sessions and activities. The workshop ended with the distribution of certificates.