I was born in the metropolitan city of Indonesia, Jakarta. I was living around educated people, in a comfortable family, which I called 'my comfort zone'. I was a senior high school student when my world gets wider and clearer. I’m able to see the differences between how I live and how those who swept the road, or sell newspaper in the road traffic live. Those people are fighters who work hard to make a living to ensure that they’ll have food in their stomach that day.

I was still attending grade 2 of high school when my friends and I founded a charity organization “Pondok Matahari”, a non-governmental organization which is located in a slum area in Pondok Ranji, Bintaro, Tangerang.   

It was on December 9^th of 2011, when we set our foot down on muddy footpath, through various steps of land, and paddy field to reach a slum area amidst the densely populated capital city. There were rows of houses with concrete floor. Each of its front yards is decorated with a mountain of garbage. The food vendors jammed their wares in between mud puddles. All of it is a reasonable view of the metropolitan city, where the sovereign society live off of the suffering of marginalized people.

The atmosphere of the capital is always ablaze with dynamism, and discrimination, and ignorance.There 's a certain trend flourishing amongst the metropolis in Indonesia. They build splendor buildings as though they cannot see a slum area just several minutes away.

The growing group of young people are apathetic to charitable actions and are more interested on their personal satisfaction, an inclination that makes their sense of charity to be pathologically ignored.

In an attempt to better understand these issues, I’m wondering, “what’s wrong with the system?” considering that as an archipelago, Indonesia has a very diverse population, as well as having the culture of tolerance and community work.

Firstly, the realization that humans are social beings. It is impossible for an individual to stand alone without relying on others, and it is simply impossible to be a person who's not going to need others’ help.

Secondly, we realize that caring for others is very substantial in life. Ignorance can be seen when parents’ disregard their children’s need for education for the sake of helping the family financial affairs. Ignorance also leads to discrimination and intolerance in this world.

The interesting thing that I’m trying to highlight is, that we cannot conclude that Indonesia was hit by a crisis of concern.

Fortunately, a batch of younger generation who actually care and willing to contribute begins to manifest. There are a number of social-humanitarian organizations that have been established by young scholars, just like Pondok Matahari. People who do and actuate an attempt. Those who observe and not only criticizing rhetorically, but also actively involved as an agent of change. Those who are unwilling to become the 'casualties of today's society'.

Pondok Matahari was originally founded by four people. The first four months are the most difficult phase for us and other volunteers to try to give the best contribution. We wanted to facilitate them as best as we could with meager financial aid that we, as students at that time, can provide.

All of the hard works we did are finally paid back when we were finally able to launch a big event with the help of other social humanitarian organizations. We were finally financially independent after going through a time of hardship. I believe that the contributors who help us also have their own inspiring story.

It proves that the culture of community work has not disappeared in Indonesia. People are still concerned with others, and it proves the lack of apathy in the society. People who do not care and are not touched their conscience to contribute when they see the circumstances around them will create discrimination. We can even say that discrimination is the consequence of people’s ignorance.Thus, an initiator has an important role to make others aware of the importance of contributing, stripped of their personal interests.

In conclusion, even if we are just one of the few people who care and are able do something, take it as a personal role to ignite the spirit of contributing in others.