Volunteers: The Meaning Behind a Single Word

A volunteer, in the simplest sense, is someone who chooses to do good and accepts the sacrifice that comes with serving others. The Indonesian dictionary defines the term as a person who does something willingly, without being required or forced.

The author expands that definition to include anyone who consciously gives time, energy, thought, expertise or material resources for the benefit of society, the environment or a humanitarian mission, without expecting financial gain or material compensation. The word itself, the author writes, combines the ideas of willingness and sacrifice.

The article then turns to Aceh Tamiang, where the author served as a medical volunteer. A specialist in ophthalmology, the author traveled there with a colleague specializing in dermatology and venereology to provide direct health services to people in the worst-affected areas.

By late June 2026, around June 27 or 28, the area had entered recovery. Yet the devastation from the flash flood remained clear: lives had been lost, infrastructure damaged, homes destroyed and daily life disrupted.

Amid the ruins, the author encountered the story of Julian Putra, described as a pioneer and chief executive of the Indonesian Red Crescent Clinic in Aceh Tamiang. The author presents his experience as an extraordinary example of volunteering, one that deserves to be known and considered by more people.

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A person who does something willingly, without being required or forced.