Personal touch is unbeatable

Over the past half-decade, I have been employed by various nonprofit organizations in Indonesia. Consequently, I have some experience with numerous issues, including the job description. It was designed by me. I aspired to engage in various issues and roles, then choose the specific position that sparked my interests and passions. In summary, it is a subject of great curiosity to me. What issue do I find most appealing? What types of undertakings can serve as a bridge between my enthusiasm for communication and community? What potential influence may I exert on my local community?

About 3 years ago, in October 2020, I got an offer from a non-profit organization named the Foundation for Mother and Child Health Indonesia (FMCH). Their mission is to enhance the wellbeing of families, particularly mothers and children, residing in Indonesia. This is accomplished through the provision of various education, health, and skill programs. The FMCH organization played a crucial role in facilitating the discovery of my spark, and I realized this after two years of my resignation. During my tenure as a media and communications officer at that time, I had numerous opportunities to engage with the right holders. I met some pregnant mothers who were struggling with their health and economic condition; I met some children who indicated stunting; I met some midwives who were experiencing a lack of access and information; and many more. The pain is genuine.

As women, we struggle a lot!

Health is paramount as both a basic need and a human right. Pandemic COVID-19 could be one of the tangible samples to back up this thesis. In Indonesia, the maternal mortality rate stands at 173 deaths per 100,000 live births, specifically linked to factors tied to pregnancy (World Bank, 2020). Conversely, the infant mortality rate is 18.9 deaths per 1000 live births in 2021 (Statista, 2023). This data is just an iceberg phenomenon. There are a multitude of cases dealing with this matter. Stunting, malnutrition, and inadequate access to healthcare facilities and providers are further tangible challenges in the field.

Every effort regarding mother and child health is a purposeful investment not just for nations but also for the global community. According to UNICEF (2016), efforts to reduce mother and child mortality rates will save seven billion per year in health costs. Moreover, deaths of mother and child can result in losses of $15 billion per year due to lost productivity globally (Asian Development Bank, 2016). Therefore, I expressed a strong desire to take part in this challenge through a combination of my passions: communication and community. I envision my career trajectory as a communication specialist within the context of health settings, specifically in rural regions of eastern Indonesia.

Moreover, to attain that trajectory, I firmly believe connections will be one of the significant contributors. In some scenes, a connection from LinkedIn could be a bridge to bring an individual to their dream; a speaker from a fireside event could be a channel that connects you to the right partner; or even an alumni—that individuals have not known before—could be a link to get a seat in a company. This type of connection, which Mark Granovetter mentioned as a strength of weak ties. These ties provide access to numerous and novel pieces of information because they connect people to diverse and disparate parts of human connections.

There's a touchy-feely movie! 

Regarding this matter, in summary, my weak ties during my journey to help me achieve my goal so far are all the individuals I met virtually and in person in many scenes: seminars, showcase events, volunteer activities, etc. On the other hand, my strong ties are with my co-workers and supervisors from my previous professional experiences, graduate school colleagues and instructors, and my friends in some communities I joined. Upon reflection, I realized that I should manage both ties not only as my bridge to achieving my goal but also as an integral part of life, as a social creature.

The Strength of Weak Ties by Mark S. Granovetter. 
Retrieved from the journal pg. 1365

Thus, the touchy-feely approach by the father and queen of this theory, David Bradford and Carole Robin, could be one of the most effective approaches to doing so. This approach stresses behavioral aspects that impact others and might mean their success as a future leader (Bradford and Robin, 2021: 8). Touchy-feely offers a valuable perspective to develop the soft skills that have become crucial to gaining meaningful connections. This implies that the utilization of interpersonal touch in interactions is unbeatable. Articulate your desires, communicate your fidgetiness, and demonstrate your curiousities. In short, just be truly human.

To sum up, my professional experience for the last five to six years will be fruitless if I do not maintain and develop it over time. The curiosity should be the base, and the connection should be the bridge.