Moving to Jakarta

Hi Ladies

I will be relocating to Jakarta in the next 6 months and would like to join Expat Ladies and charity organizations.
Can you recommend any.

We are also looking for accommodation near shopping and other recreational facilities. Any nice town house complexes you can recommend. We looked at the Kemang Club Villas. Is this near shopping malls ?

Look forward to see Jakarta and experience the lifestyle and to make new friends.

Greetings
Dalene
(South Africa)

Hi Dalene
There are many associations in Jakarta you can get involved in or join. It's a matter of popping in or joining their coffee mornings to see how you feel. Often people click with a certain association upon meeting and chatting to a few members. I'm involved with ANZA (Australia & NZ assoc) which accepts all nationalities. The British Women's Association is another one of the larger associations and then there's American, German, Canadian, Spanish speaking and the list goes on. You've got plenty to choose from and a lot of people join more than one association. They all are great social networks and most have social welfare divisions doing hands on charity work.

As for housing complexes there are a few factors you should consider before deciding where to live. Traffic is a biggie here so factors such as do you have children and if so which school will they go to or where does your spouse work. You don't want to have to spend more time than necessary in the car. Shopping malls are everywhere pretty much so it's more important to be near work or a school. Or somewhere in the middle if work and schools not close.

You need to come and then find a good agent who can find you something within your budget. Complexes are great but always plus and minus with any housing you need to consider.

There are not a lot of complexes with facilities you'd expect like club houses etc. The few I know are older but fine. There are more compounds that are gated houses without clubhouse facilities. A lot of people have stand alone housing here but then you do need your own security which is often provided by your company and very common.

I would suggest when you get to Jakarta go along to some coffee mornings meet some expats to chat about where it is best to live and ask for recommendations for a good agent to help you find what you're after.

Good luck and I will probably run into you in a couple of months.

Kelly

Volunteering

Hello Kelly and Lara,
I've just moved to Jakarta with my partner. I am looking for good
organisations to volunteer with, however I am having trouble finding
relevant organisations online. I have emailed Australian organisations
with a presence here but so far have no leads. I have a background in
gender issues and so would like to work with women's equity or health
organisations. Where do I start? Can you possibly recommend any
women's organisations or social equity umbrella organisations that can
point me in the right direction?

Thank you
KC

Hi KC
I know there are plenty of NGO's here in Jakarta but not sure who would be best to contact. I'll ask around for you.

If you wanted to volunteer on a smaller scale you could go thru the social welfare divisions of the women's associations who are involved with local hands in projects that include orphanages, under privilege schools, etc. they are usually happy to have a helping hand.

Try British women's Association, Anza or American women's assoc. or try contacting your embassy to see if they have an aid project that you can get involved in.

Will get back to you when I get some more info.

Kelly