Chit-chatting with MB-Gen!

Posted on: "05 Jun 2008"

Wanting to know more about Mb-Gen? You've come to the right place!

As a contributor to the news and event at www.mb-gen.org, I've gotten the chance to speak to Herman Wenas, the walker. During our conversation, Wenas is in his preparation for his next course of journey from Busan to Seoul which kicks-off on the 29 May 2008 and ends on 29 June. (I'm enjoying my coffee at home. Thanks to online technology, making time and distance smaller). Let's read-on.

Q: Hi, Mr. Wenas! The question list is ready.
HW: Yes.Go ahead. Meanwhile may I do a bit of side errand, alright? I've just arrived from a meeting with the embassy.

Q: I am still unsure about the correlation between this long walk, and the raising of fund to support education especially for the children of Indonesia. Could you tell more on the things you do to raise this fund. Is this a campaign?
HW: I introduce Indonesia to the people around the world by doing this [walking], at the same time to raise fund for the young generation. Fund raising is achieved through online donation, or fund transfer. Understanding this campaign is not just through me, but through the information put on this website, or the media coverage which create awareness to the people - so people know what this campaign is all about - and may therefore contribute.

Q: From the website, it is written that you're inspired by your parents who passionately were concern towards education for young people. Could you elaborate on the things your parents did that makes you follow their deeds?
HW: They spent much of their time getting involved on educational activities for the young: building schools, my mom used to be a teacher and periodically became a principal. My dad, in his last days, he was still learning (to the point 24 hours before he passed away last November, where he attended convocation). Both have helped to support many poor children for their studies, etc.

Q: Which school? Perhaps I may have heard or seen.
HW: It's an institution accommodating early stage of education such as kindergarten to high school in north Jakarta

Q: O, it is in north Jakarta. To be honest, I don't go there often, I still can't quite imagine. Does the school still stand today?
HW: Yes. In the 1960s to 80s, the area was considered rural with many poor people, but the result of education has brought an improvement to their life. They are now able to build their community better and environment to that of what we see now.

Q: Does it mean your dad still was passionate about learning despite his age?
HW: Yes, that is correct. His convocation picture (it can be accessed www.youtube.com/mbgenvideo - video MB-Gen Korea 2008). That is exactly 24 hours before he passed away.

Q: Besides inspiration from your parents, do you get other inspirations from films? I've watched forest Gump, where the main character's action to walk all over the USA become an inspiration for many to follow.
HW: My main inspiration comes from within me to be exemplarily to kids and the young generation which came from following my parents. There birthed an act to give something which has long lasting impact. Coupled with my hobby to travel, in particular walking, so I decided to do something I would enjoy doing to give a good cause for many people.

That's where the idea to walk around the world popped. Besides introducing Indonesia to the people of the world, it is also for the hope to fund-raise for the young generation. To me, if the thing I do can be an inspiration to the many, it is indeed something I would be thankful for. What important is for me to start something. This resounds in the tagline for MB-Gen that is: "It is time!" This point back to me to start taking steps (to do something).

Q: In regard to MB-Gen team, do you recruit them or voluntarily they came to support this campaign?
HW: Please take note that the walking will be done by me. And the team that is available is the enabler and provider to the things I need to accomplish and finish this campaign well. For those interested in joining are usually, geographically scattered and as volunteer. MB-Gen team is made up of volunteers who involves themselves in longing to see this project a success.

Q: What makes a journey successful? Is it the publication, safety; please give details to this?
HW: More or less, the things above make it a good journey. MB-Gen activities not only is to facilitate in making it a successful "walk around the world", but there are activities we have which are tied to its main vision and mission which will be implemented in Indonesia. One of the things which make a good journey is through good communication as a team. Others are technical in nature because there will be adjustments, therefore we do not have a "fixed" method to implement project of this magnitude.

Q: I quote words you mentioned earlier, "There are activities we have which are tied to its main vision and mission which will be implemented in Indonesia..." What are these activities?
HW: Free medication and health check-up for the public (29 May, next week, which will be held at infantri 201/Jaya Yudha headquarter, Cimanggis - exactly in the same timing to my walk-commencement in Korea - also in the celebration of 100 years of national [Indonesia] awakening). Look at news and event; red, character building, leadership, entrepreneurship, basic health & nutrition, creating environment awareness for the young which will be freely taught, and walk-activities for the young in major cities in Indonesia.

Q: How do you build your successful team to be in accord?
HW: Primarily what I emphasise is a clear vision. If there are differences in vision within the team, it is going to make this journey to reach that vision in crumble. Next, it is equally important to build communication between individuals in the team. Not the least, it is important to build values/cultural values within the team. (This is foremost importance I need to stress). The first value in MB-Gen is: "Can not" does not in our dictionary. This value gives a positive mindset we whenever faced with problems. Secondly, absolutely NO SARAP (Suku-Agama-Ras- Antar Golongan - Politik = Nationalities-Religion-Race-Parties-Politics)

Q: Till today, how far has MB-Gen gone to reach its vision?
HW: Overall, its mission is divided into 2 parts: domestic & overseas. Domestically, there have been free medication organised in which we worked with other institutions and organisations. For once we did character building and leadership training. Next, this year we will conduct free medication to 1000 public to commemorate 100 years of national awakening, also in-line with the celebrating of Indonesia liberation there will be walk-activities for the young, health screening. We target 10000 participants. And the last one this year, in the commemoration with 80th year of "national youth-vow", there will be free medication, health screening, character building, leadership, and entrepreneurship, and walk-activities for the young in a few cities.

Q: To you, when do you consider your mission is completed?
HW: I have made a commitment to walk around the world and it is when the SDM to implementing education for the young start. Next, once I am done with this walking campaign, I will focus to my next point: educational film. MB-Gen will be fully supported by young people whose mindset is to improve Indonesia as a whole.

Q: How do you manage your time in making success of MB-Gen's activities with your work? Do you put aside a couple of months - as such - to MB-Gen?
HW: Generally I do not take care of MB-Gen because I have the best team to take care of it which allows me to focus totally on the walking. And my ambition to becoming an entrepreneur is gradually put aside when I decided to focus entirely on walking. You can say that there is almost nothing I do these days which is related to my ambition to be an entrepreneur.

Q: Will you be a full-time in MB-Gen? That must be something with a lot of dedication!
HW: Exactly, because MB-Gen in itself is a team. But I prefer to be called "full-time walker". The rest of it is done by the team.

Q: I've read the article on the website saying, there has been many preparation from 2004 - 2007 before starting this walking-campaign. What makes preparation stretched to such a period of time?
HW: In 2004, I prepared myself physically. I began researching in 2003, and consumed nutritions which are essential. Physical endurances includes: long walk, long-distance jogging, fitness, etc. Regular health check and everything else related to health and body endurances to extreme weather.

In 2005, I continued and maintained what I had done in 2004 (nutritions watch, physical training, etc). In addition to that is training which deals with adjusting to different conditions overseas (Hong Kong, Korea, USA) at the same time building network with the natives overseas.

In 2006, it is similar to that of 2004-2005, and the forming of MB-Gen team at year end.

In 2007, walking around the world campaign officially started. 1st phase: 1000km from Jakarta - Semarang. Within the same year, the things I mentioned above (free medication, free training, etc) also began. At the same time, preparation for 2nd phase to walk overseas, with South Korea as the first stop.

In 2008, entering 2nd phase, that is involving walking activities overseas (on the other hand activities in Indonesia still go on according to plan I have mentioned earlier: free medication, free training, walk for the young). First, South Korea, next will be west coast of Canada, and the USA, and lastly will be New Zealand (which may be postponed to early 2009).

Q: May I know, on what basis do you select the track for your journey?
HW: It is in the basis of safety, and residents living along the course (which mean there are people who can witness/be witness). Besides that, it is also important that the locals I have met/built relationship with in 2005 are ready. Also, it is the season which makes it possible for long walking to be conducted.

Q: I found something interesting from the website that is your determination to build a life skill education centre (LSED) especially for the children of Indonesia. Any specific illustration?
HW: This vision is not only for the children in Indonesia, but moving forward we want to see the world as a "village" where all children can have the opportunity to be the best for their individual community worldwide. Again, that is for all young generation, but it will be in phases starting from Indonesia, ASEAN, Asia, and so on.

LSED becomes a wide-reaching boundary that brings a positive impact. The primary aim is to build a positive culture allowing people in it to be able to identify the negatives out there and see the positive that is in them, and are willing to get out and so the negatives "out there" can be made positive. I want to stress on the culture/values first. This is important so people are aware before LSED is built. The people will be prepared and know that this place is different and bring about a meaningful change. To build the expectation in a person is equally important to building a concrete building. It has to be parallel. That's roughly it.

Q: I think we've had enough chat this time. Thank you for your time. I hope success for MB-Gen! Stay tune for the next news and event. Is there any last word that you want to put across to the readers out there?
HW: Taking steps for generation... It is time!

Translated by Billy Septian (Singapore) from "Ngobrol-Ngobrol Bersama MB-Gen" (Monica Octaviani)