SAP EXTREME VOLUNTEER - JESSICA

Bridging Worlds

by Rayna Topalska, SAP

When she is not leading a marketing campaign for SAP in Indonesia, Jessica Violetta Schwarze can be found teaching English to street children under a bridge in Jakarta. 

 

Jessica has always been concerned looking at poor people in the streets, especially children. “I want to help street children and to bring hope into their lives,” says Jessica. In March 2011 she joined Sahabat Anak (Friends of Children) organization. It is a non-profit organization that provides quality education and children’s rights advocacy in an effort to encourage and inspire Jakarta’s street children to escape urban poverty. Jessica volunteers as an English teacher and once a month teaches street children. The lessons take place not in a classroom but under a bridge in the city. Despite the harsh conditions, she enjoys her volunteer work a lot. “We place a simple mat for the children to sit on and to listen and learn. It is very dusty and dirty, hot and humid; but the experience is worthwhile,” explains Jessica.

Children are all the same

Jessica´s class comprises of about 20
children from 9 to 12 years old. She finds it very easy to work with them. “I used to teach children professionally before and I think that children are the same everywhere regardless of economic level,” she says. Despite their adverse conditions, the children in Jessica`s class laugh a lot, love games and sweets, and enjoy making faces.
Jessica hopes that by teaching practical English, these children will eventually have an opportunity to get a better job. “It is amazing to see how smart some of them are, and how some have such eagerness to learn,” says Jessica. However, she is not only a teacher; she is a friend of the children. The connection between them is very strong. Most of the children have no home, no family, and feel alone. They crave for affection and usually after the first few minutes of teaching, some of the kids rest their head on Jessica’s lap, put their arm around her or play with her hair.

“On Sunday, the minute I arrive under the bridge, some of the children will shout my name in delight and run as fast as they can to my car, impatiently waiting for me to get out so they can hug me. The feeling is truly rewarding, it’s hard to describe in words. I love them very much,” relates Jessica. She tries to be an example for the small children and encourages them that if they work hard they will fulfill their dreams.

Positive attitude

The volunteer work gives Jessica a balance in her life. Being involved and meeting the children has enabled her to live with gratitude every day. She has learned to be more respectful and to appreciate everything she has. “In day-to-day work, it is normal that I encounter challenges and problems, and conflicts can also occur. When faced with difficult situations, sometimes I get emotional and my stress level peaks. At such times, I find a quiet place and remind myself how pale and trivial these problems actually are in comparison to what the street children have to face every day,” explains Jessica. She approaches problems, conflicts, and challenges more positively, which helps her to perform better at her job by having a clearer mind and a better perspective.

Make the world run better

At SAP, Jessica leads the marketing department of the company in Indonesia. Since the country is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, Jessica has a busy day. However, her work and volunteer activities complement each other perfectly. In helping the street children under the bridge, Jessica has also built her own bridge to SAP’s mission statement: Make the World Run Better. “In some way or another, by doing a good marketing job and promoting SAP in Indonesia, I take part in helping local organizations be more efficient and globally competitive. This creates a positive impact to the economy, will create jobs, and down the trail it may impact the street children too. This motivates me greatly,” explains Jessica.