Inspiring Women: From Riches to Rags

 Their stories often appeared on leading national newspapers and local televisions. Their unwavering and relentless effort to promote free education for the poor and the downtrodden is portrayed as modern day Kartini's struggle. Their work inspire others, raising an awareness on how education offers a way to eradicate ignorance, poverty, and criminality. Through their generous hardwork, the marginalized street children have a ray of hope to have a better life. They bring a lasting change for the lives they touch, which in turn transform the lives of many others in their circle.

To honor Kartini's legacy, Bank Indonesia in collaboration with Femina group, Ayah Bunda magazine and Nutressa held a talkshow "Perempuan Indonesia: Inspirasi dan Kekuatan untuk Perubahan" (Indonesian Women: Inspiration and Power for Change) on 24th April 2014 in Bank Indonesia.

Led by Asri Welas, one of reknown presenters and former model in Indonesia, the show heated up by minutes. She skillfully laid out the ingredients of effective host by keeping her audience entertained, informed, and involved. With her unique squaking voice and humor, the audience was bewitched when flawlessly she dug deeper into the life of three amazing resource speakers to share their experience.

As the first guest was invited to take the stage, Asri broke the ice by retold her own personal story with a slight of humor. Before gaining popularity as presenter as well as celebrity in the showbiz business, Asri tried her luck to apply for a presenter in one of the national televisions. She was turned down due to her inaudible voice. While retelling, she demosntrated on how she sounded in her typical high-pitched voice with a twist of humor that immediately set the audience in a peal of laughters.

Stubbornly, she did  not give up. She refused to bow down with the general idea that with such voice, she had no future career as presenter. In the end, she becomes one of famous presenters in Indonesia.

Y. Anni Aryani is the first guest speaker who successfully obtains her PhD from School of Accounting, Victoria University despite her physical disability. Though she is a person with disability, having contracted polio at a tender age, and lost the use of her legs, Anni Aryani is a living testimony of a successful physically challeged lecturer at Sebelas Maret University (UNS).

Her story is that of resillience and determination, after she lost the ability to walk normally – what she admints has been hard to live with during her childhood. At age two and a half years, Anni is struck with polio affecting the use of her legs. Graduating from college, discrimination due to her disability denied her to get hired on the post she desired most. However, that did not stop her from following her dream. She says it reached a point her condition motivated her instead. She was offered a post as a lecturer at UNS until she finally obtained PhD on scholarship. She proves that physical disability does not prevent one from acquiring her dream.

Moving to the next guest speakers, Asri invited two sisters who dedicate their life to provide free education for thousands of underprivileged children who live in makeshift dwelling. Under an elevated toll road, beside railway tracks and a filthy river in North Jakarta, Sri Rosyati (known as Rossy) and Sri Irianingsih (known as Rian) have been the driving force behind the campaign of free education for these children. Their twenty four years relentless efforts for change now extend from Jakarta across the Indonesian archipelago.

Ibu Guru Kembar or the twin teachers as they use to be called, established their first Kartini Emergency School in the lost space beneath the toll road in North Jakarta. Using a substantial family inheritance, they finance the operational expenses of the school and and teach the children theirselves.

“We never receive any assistance from the government. From books and equipment to uniforms and a daily meal, we paid everything from our own pockets.” They retold their story the first time they set up the school.

“Our school has been relocated seven times due to local government policy to free the area from illegal buildings. We don’t give up. We set up the school in tents to accomodate the classroom.” The demolition of their toll-road schools is just one instance of the obstacles and setbacks they have faced along the way, but the dynamic duo show little sign of giving up.

“Finally, seeing our stubborness, one of the official from the police corps, helps us to establish a permanent school building with the help of one of the private airlines assistance.” They said further.

Once, a high ranking official from majoral office humorously asked them,”Mbakyu, ngopo tho kok repot-repot ngurusin kere. Wong punya duit kok. Mbok dinggo mlaku-mlaku ae!’

(Why do you bother assisting those vermins? You have lots of money, why don’t you enjoy your life instead?)

The twins responded calmly. We are the servant of God. It is our calling and we love to do it.

Yes, their dream is to offer an opportunity to impoverished children in the surrounding slums so they would be independent and self-sufficient by giving them a free formal education, as well as practical training. They wish oneday the government take these children into its care. Yet, it seems it is a long way to go.

To prevent their pupils joining the ranks of the jobless, they provide them with practical skills to earn for a living ranging from sewing and handicrafts to cooking and organising weddings, in addition to basic education. With the skills, their students can go out and seek their own living while keep continuing their study.

Now, the sisters have set up 64 similar schools in different parts of Indonesia. They have also established adult further-education courses in the borderline and remote rural areas. They use their riches to finance the schools and leave their cozy life to give back to life.