Najwa

2025, Indonesia

My name is Najwa Riyanti Wulandari, but people usually call me Awa. I’m a bit extroverted. Sometimes I enjoy socializing, but at other times I feel unsure about how to start conversations with people.

I am volunteering at YCM because I am one of the members of PMD (Proyek Masa Depan), a project that provides scholarships for underprivileged students. As part of the program, the students are required to do volunteer work at organizations that partner with the Die Brücke Foundation. “Die Brücke” (“the bridge”) is a foundation established by German-speaking men and women of various nationalities and is officially registered in Indonesia.

When I first came to YCM, it felt a little different from what I was used to. I met many new people without any preparation, I didn’t know the rules yet, and I didn’t know anyone there. The mentors were really friendly and helpful, and they explained everything about YCM to me. The kids there were cheerful, eager to learn, and able to think critically. At first, I was confused about how I should behave, but slowly I figured out where I fit in. We learned while playing, played without fear while still following the rules, and interacted with others while maintaining clear boundaries between the volunteers and the kids.

YCM gave me plenty of opportunities to share my thoughts and learn new things. I discovered many things I didn’t know before. It was fun, sometimes tiring, but overall it was a very valuable experience.