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Organizing a huge public event inevitably comes with challenges, but passion for a good cause goes a long way toward ensuring its success. That’s what the ladies of the Women’s International Club Jakarta demonstrated last week.

On Wednesday, the Jakarta Convention Center was swamped with enthusiastic guests and shoppers for WIC’s 44th Annual Jakarta Charity Bazaar. The event is the organization’s biggest and most prominent fund-raising event, according to Theresia Agustino, treasurer of WIC’s ways and means committee.

The focal point of the charity bazaar was its “white elephant” booth. Taking the neighborhood garage sale to the next level, all of the goods sold at the booth were secondhand items donated by WIC members and the public, according to Elmyra Bambang, WIC’s chairwoman of social welfare.

“These clothes and shoes were still in good condition, so we sold them at a reasonable price with all the proceeds going to our charity fund,” she said.

Featuring hundreds of items from local brands and 41 embassies representing nations from across the globe, the event showcased traditional culture and cuisine. It has become a fixture on Jakarta’s social calendar.

“As long as we reach the break-even point, all of the proceeds from the admission fee and exhibition stall rent go to our charity fund,” Elmyra said.

Admission was Rp 6,000 (70 cents).

In addition to the used clothing sale, attendees could peruse stalls and sample everything from authentic Turkish delights to African rooibos tea.

“It’s nice to see different stalls that offer various unique goods from different countries. I really enjoyed it,” said Leena, a visitor from Finland who fell in love with the kebaya and handcrafted accessories she bought at the bazaar.

Embodying the philosophy “friendship through understanding,” WIC is a nonprofit organization established in 1950 that gives its members the opportunity to meet, mingle and cooperate with women from across the world.

“The aim of this club is to foster the friendship between women of different nationalities and to work together to contribute to social improvement through our charity works,” said Sandra Toffali Errico, chairwoman of WIC’s ways and means committee .

It is open to all women, but there’s a quota for each nationality, she says.

“The club has to maintain a balance among the various nationalities represented, or else we will lose our international perspective,” she said.

WIC president Rita D. Pusponegoro said there were about 450 members and a variety of committees collaborated to run the organization.

WIC’s social welfare committee works to enhance and support the lives of underprivileged people in Jakarta and surrounding areas.

Every year, WIC supports about 14 social institutions, 350 orphans, 200 elderly residents and 100 university students.

In 2010, WIC provided support to renovate the roof and bathrooms at an elementary school in Jakarta.

“Earlier this year, we also helped to purchase spare parts for five dialysis machines for the Indonesian Kidney Institute. Now that their dialysis machines are functioning properly, needy patients can get proper treatment,” Elmyra said.

Each year, she added, WIC has raised even more money through the bazaar.

“Last year, we managed to raise Rp 65 million from our charity event. It was a huge jump from the Rp 55 million we raised in 2009,” she said.

Elmyra, who has been involved in WIC’s social welfare committee for 16 years, said it took dedication and hard work make the charity successful.

“We always have people who come to help out, but we cannot force people to stay,” she said.

“It must come from their heart and it takes a willingness and dedication to work for a good cause.”