“The Indonesian Heritage Society and Rumah-Ku is giving me a very meaningful way of learning more about Indonesia, its rich culture, fascinating history and contemporary political and social issues. The warmth and friendliness of the people of Indonesia is a joy and makes Jakarta a fabulous place to live. My co-chair Lilis Sulis and I

A documentary made by a Global Jaya School Secondary School student reflects on the life of disabled workers in Indonesia. Photo courtesy of Global Jaya School As a normal human being, we often forget that it is a gift that we were born without any disabilities. On a day to day basis, most of us

Travelling anywhere in Southeast Asia, you will experience similar things. However, if you step off the tourist trail, you can encounter something unique. Photo courtesy of Maja Phillips/NOW!JAKARTA On a recent trip to Laos, I discovered a whole new aspect of Southeast Asia – a way of living I had never seen before. Living in Indonesia

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner – the perfect opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care. Get creative and join our poetry contest! Your poems can be short or long, funny or romantic, joyful or sad: it is entirely up to you. The three best entries will win a dining voucher

The Hoshizora Foundation, based in Yogyakarta and founded in 2006 by a group of Indonesian students living in Japan, is committed to providing access to education for all Indonesian children. Photo courtesy of Hoshizora Foundation/NOW!JAKARTA So far, Hoshizora has reached out to more than 2000 children and over 1000 individuals and organizational sponsors to work together,

The loss of a child is the most devastating experience a parent can face – a piece of them is lost, the future forever changed.   Photo courtesy of Komunitas Taufan/NOW!JAKARTA Yeni Dewi Mulyaningsih, commonly referred to as Bu Yanie, lost her son Taufan in June 2013 to AML Leukemia. Taufan was a patient at

For the second year, women-and men- gathered in the hundreds on Saturday, 3 March, to rally across Central Jakarta demanding equal rights for women around the country.  Initiated by rights groups in the lead up to International Women’s Day on 8 March, this year’s event highlighted eight main issues, and saw a stronger,more diverse turnout.

Siem Reap, Cambodia. As soon as you step off that plane you get a huge ‘whoosh’ of warm air. Of course, you start sweating almost immediately. Photo courtesy of iStock/NOW!JAKARTA This was no ordinary trip. None of the ‘typical tourist activities’ were done. I didn’t take a trick picture that made it look like I

Three women started an organisation that supports women weave their way toward better economic opportunities. Three woman start social entrepreneurship organisation "Du'Anyam" to help other women in East Nusa Tenggara. Photo courtesy of Du'Anyam/NOW!JAKARTA The statistics are grim. Maternal and infant mortality rates continue to be a problem in Indonesia, particularly in East Nusa Tenggara

Religious beliefs dictate that certain sites and structures have been around since the beginning of time, formed from geological formations, and written into the various holy books and considered spiritual spaces. There is also considered sacred among the pious, have increased in popularity and are classified “religious geotourism’ by the travel industry. Geoscientists Rovicky Dwi

Once the business of settling into life in Jakarta is done, it’s time to find a community to socialise with, to network with, and to establish one’s roots, even if temporary, in the city. One of the ways to explore the country is to join the intercultural club or organisation. NOW!Jakarta has curated a list of

In recent years, obstacle course racing (OCR) has become increasingly popular, and events that feature the sport have seen a large volume of participants—often filled to capacity. The Spartan Race, one of the world’s biggest obstacle course races, took place in Singapore in 2015. Held for the first time in Southeast Asia, it inspired five