“We want young people to be engaged in the civic and public participation process. Let’s make voice, not the noise, and be the change!” said John Samuel (Regional Director of Oxfam in Asia)

This quote encapsulates the entire five-day experience of Oxfam Fellows during the Induction Meeting for the Oxfam Young Leaders Fellowship 2023, held in Bangkok, Thailand from 10 to 14 July 2023.

The meeting provided the fellows with invaluable tools and resources that have profoundly impacted me, leaving me fundamentally transformed from when I first entered the program.

Before I delve into my captivating experiences in Thailand, allow me to introduce myself and recount how I became a part of this fellowship program. I am Chikita Edrini Marpaung, born and raised in Indonesia. I am currently pursuing my Master’s Degree at Chonnam National University in South Korea, specialising in Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Human Rights Studies.

When I applied for the Fellowship Program, I never imagined that, out of a diverse pool of over 400 candidates from across Asia, Oxfam and Asia Centre would select me.

I confess, I hesitated to apply due to concerns about my age and gender. Being a woman in a patriarchal society has influenced how I navigate life decisions. I began contemplating how society might perceive my ambition at this stage in life. Yet, the words of Bell Hooks, a prominent feminist figure in her book Ain’t I a Woman and Feminism served as a poignant reminder of the importance of understanding our place in society, particularly in contexts where sexist ideologies may shape female identity. Moreover, I acknowledged my privilege and experiences, which equipped me to seize opportunities and extend that access to a wider audience in my home country of Indonesia. I came to realise that it was my duty to educate and share this knowledge and opportunity within my society.

Fueled by my desire to address pressing issues in Southeast Asian society, I conceived my project as “The LAWHUM – Law and Human Rights Forum: Empowering Young Activists and Victims of Wrongful Arrests to Become ‘Paralegals’ Capable of Advocating for Themselves.” This initiative was prompted by numerous reports highlighting the critical state of democracy and civic participation in Southeast Asia. CIVICUS, for instance, noted that 28.5% of countries worldwide were facing closure, categorising Indonesia as a repressive nation. Persistent challenges included dwindling civic and democratic freedoms, as well as ongoing climate injustice. Individuals with privilege and education must step up and prevent the recurrence of past injustices.

Hence, my project proposal aimed to train and mobilise 50 young individuals, ultimately increasing the number of empowered community groups capable of asserting their rights and contributing to the promotion of democracy and the fulfillment of human rights.