Notes on Humanitarian Class

While everybody goes on full summer break, I have to admit that my kind of break is half-half. Yes, our scholarship mandate us to attend summer semester. Which means that over these two or three summer months, we have classes between breaks. It alternates back and forth: one week full of classes, then one week off, and then back to class again.

As of now, we’ve finished two of them, leaving only Health Policy. Just one more class, and then it ends with a final exam. Everything moves so ppalli ppalli (fast-fast), huh?

So, what do I want to write about here?

Yes it is about a lecture. Probably the most interesting one, and the one that left the deepest impression on me. It was an intense 5 day course running from morning until evening, complete with daily quizzes and group discussions.

What made it so special was that the lecturers came from outside our school. We had Prof. Gilbert from Johns Hopkins as our primary lecturer, someone from ICRC Korea, and others who have immense experience in the humanitarian field. When I say immense, I mean more than 10 years on the ground!

This course covered everything about disasters and rebuilding lives for refugees. It opened my eyes to a world I had only ever seen on the news. It was difficult. Not because I had to memorize a lot for an exam, but because I was forced to confront the harsh realities of injustice.

I recently stumbled upon a post on Threads that said: as middle-income, we are closer to becoming climate refugees than billionaires. It sounds scary; almost like fear-mongering. Yet I have to acknowledge that it holds a lot of truth.

What key takeaways did I gain from this class?

I saw how people from developed countries view ours, which shattered my bubble. 

To be honest, I think I was living in a bubble. Before, I thought I lived in a fairly decent place: not the kind of environment with extreme poverty and constant social crises. What actually happened was that I was privileged enough.

I have easy access to housing, education, a stable job, and even hobbies without needing a side hustle. I live near the capital city. I already knew how most people lived, especially since I've traveled around high-density areas, but this class put it into a sharper perspective.

I saw how corruption destroys our nation and leaves us completely unprepared for disasters. That is our reality. So many disasters stem directly from human greed. Remember the flash floods in Aceh where the water was filled with logs instead of river water?

And people still struggle to recover because our leader claimed we didn't need help from other countries. Even when it was offered! Simply out of a foolish sense called pride. My god, I truly can't believe it.

Our lecturer pointed out how doctors refuse to go to rural areas. But can we really blame them? The government has never bothered to offer decent incentives. We all know it’s not a matter of budget. Say it again: WE HAVE THE BUDGET. It’s just that those in power don't have the right priorities. They prioritize themselves and their political coalitions. Their ambition to lead isn't rooted in a desire to serve the public; they just want to line their own pockets with public funds.

That is the stark contrast between a developing country and a developed one. In our country, people don't get to complain, analyze, or criticize what is wrong because many lack access to proper education. They don't realize they hold power or that their voices matter. They remain suppressed by the very institutions that are supposed to support them. It is... frustrating.

I was surrounded by highly intelligent and experienced classmates. 

Well, I realized this since Day 1, but with the new cohort taking the class with us, it became even clearer. Many of them have extensive experience dealing with international humanitarian issues. They have been on the frontlines helping refugees, distributing aid, and coordinating directly with UN member states and NGOs.

I’m not saying my own work is insignificant, but it exists on a different scale. I’ve worked at the grassroots level within smaller circles, whereas they have worked on a much broader, systemic stage. It was such a privilege to share a classroom with them.

During discussions, they asked such sharp, incisive questions. One classmate even asked, "What is the point of humanitarian law if no entity actually has the power to enforce it?" That was a fair point. And a sobering reality.

What else? 

Now I understand (at least based on the literature I’ve read) why so many refugees seek asylum in developed nations like the US, Europe, or Canada. It’s largely because agencies like the UNHCR have far more connections, leverage, and resources to resettle them there. It makes sense, given that developing countries like ours can barely manage our own internal crises </3

To be completely honest, receiving this level of education on a full scholarship comes with a heavy moral weight. Will I be able to function meaningfully in society with what I’ve learned? Can I promise myself that I won't become part of the "brain drain"? Will I be able to give back and build a more sustainable life; at least for the people around me?

I don't have the answers yet. This post serves as a gentle reminder to myself. If I ever find myself lost again, I can sit back, read this reflection, and remember why I started.

Anyway, congratulations to everyone in GHPF and GHS for completing the course!