awid2008

28 hours away from South Africa, back to my little room and super hectic city, Jakarta. I know all the tracks in FTX is really important. But beyond that, the feeling of knowing each other and understand what is really happen outside my country is the most valuable lesson that I ever achieve. The spirit of all participants are amazing. Power of make a CHANGE and of course exchange, the way each participant trying hard to communicate with English, hands start talking, eyes start explaining, touching, make them all understand, make them all get the messages, all of that is the thing that I’m going to miss the most.

Speaking of AWID 2008, honestly this is the first time I ever touch this area. I thought feminism is about taking men power but most of the time, I often forget, this is all about equality. More than 2000 people attend and seems like everyone trying to reverse the thousands years of the history of patriarchy. One thing that I understand, feminism won’t appear if there is no patriarchy. I demand equality, but is that making me feminist?

Beyond that confusion of am I a feminist or not, sometimes it was too hard to accept all the academic words in within 4 days. And what Nadine said at the first plenary seems representing the thought of young people in AWID or at least, mine. Once again, FTX Hub is a perfect place to go when I feel lost. At least I have people to say “hi” and feel accompanied. I don’t know why that happen. Maybe because I’m not open enough or maybe AWID not open enough. Maybe there are not much open spaces of expressions for young people. I really don’t know what if FTX is not exist. I might just lost everyday in AWID :-).

Everything in South Africa are amazing. The experience among people that will change the world, the view, the chat, the touch and of course I didn’t forget about the music along Long Street. 28 hours away from Indonesia is totally worth it.

Big hug for all FTX soldiers!
I said, never too late to exchange and CHANGE..

Cindy Clark’s speech during the openind of the AWID 2008 Forum

This is a second part of Geetanjali Misra’s speech