On May 15th, Microsoft Indonesia with ASEAN Foundation collaborated together to hold Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Connection Day. YCAB Foundation, among other NGOs, was invited to speak at the event. Our Head of Information System (IS) Development Wayan Linggawa shares the story.
From time to time, YCAB Foundation is always invited to Microsoft Indonesia’s annual event for NGOs: the NGO Connection Day. For this year, it was held on May 15th at Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel. This event mainly aimed to gather local NGOs to let them know that they can improve their operation with the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). And for this year, the event’s theme is about “Utilizing Technology for Improving Social and Economic Development.”
Co-organized by ASEAN Foundation, this event also provided time and place for local NGOs to share and learn from other NGOs. TechSoup, a nonprofit that provides technology assistance to other nonprofit organizations in the United States and other 56 countries, launched its service in Indonesia at this event to aid NGOs in technology. Microsoft Indonesia also explained about the latest technology and innovation that have been made to improve the effectiveness of ICT usage. There were speakers and experts from Microsoft Indonesia, NGOs, and the government to share real case studies among them.
On behalf of YCAB Foundation, I took part as a speaker in that event. My objective was to share what kind of Microsoft’s technology that has been implemented in YCAB Foundation. Paired with a Microsoft Solution Specialist, Felix Wira Putera, we presented a very interesting topic that every NGO will be doing: “Data Collection, Project Management, and Collaboration”. The technology we introduced was SharePoint, Microsoft’s web-based collaboration tool.
One of the biggest concerns in doing social activities is that we, NGO, will not be available on the same place at the same time every day. We have to roam around, approach the problem, or even meet with partners. So the issue on how to collaborate together and how the information should be accessible everywhere would be necessary. A friend of mine from Yayasan Jantung Indonesia also told me that they are still building an information center as a way to share information internally.
Another great thing that I found there was the table discussion session. I took part on a table that talked about “Online Fundraising”. About 17 of us sat in two round tables and shared where we are from and what we have done for our fundraising. After a short introduction, we discussed about the main topic: doing online fundraising in our organization. Most of them haven’t done it yet because of some reasons like the security issue (the danger of getting credit card fraud or being hacked), the eligibility of the donors (some NGOs don’t want donors from cigarette or liquor companies), the resources needed to build a website, and many others. Then we shared our experiences about how YCAB Foundation use website as a source of raising funds online.
Technology helps people, if it is used wisely and properly. This year’s theme about how technology improves social and economic development is presented successfully. More than a hundred people from the audience looked very excited that they stayed until the very end of the session. On this occasion, I would also like to thank ASEAN Foundation for co-organizing this event in a great and strategic place. Big thanks to Microsoft Indonesia as well that has presented their latest technology and helped us, NGOs, to thrive through their supports in software donation and knowledge sharing.