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. 

FINDING HONEST POLITICANS WITH INTEGRITY: LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/04/26/your-letters-like-looking-a-needle-a-haystack.html

At 7.00 a.m on April. 9, The Indonesian legislative race was officially underway. There was an exciting buzz around the neighborhood as polling stations started to open. People flocked to cast their vote. Parents came with their children in tow. Door prizes were offered to attract more voters. The election fever pitch rose by the hour.

Despite the racket, my husband and I chose to stay at home, lazing around in this extra one day off. Thanks Heaven, we were not infected by the craze fever. In fact, we chose not to waste our vote for the political circus. Oh yes! We have lost our faith in the candidates brawl and empty promises!

It’s hard to find honest politicians with integrity. We have been cheated, mistreated and let down over and over again. Looking for the right candidates is like looking a needle in the haystack.

And who would dare to blame us? With the constant under-performance of our political representatives and growing resentment at the rampant, corrupt practices deeply rooted in the legislative and executives’ bodies, what choice do we have?

Personally, I have lost my trust in the politicians and political parties alike. They always busy to save their own neck, bickering around and use any means necessary to accumulate wealth for their own selfish reason. History repeats itself. Once these crooked politicians got the seat, they would not keep their promises. Their constituents mean greatly only approaching the Election Day. Once it’s over, they dump them to die on the streets of poverty and despair. Yup…they are such an ungrateful bunch of savages.

Their integrity lessens inch by inch on daily basis as more and more politicians and power holders alike are mired with corruption and rampant abuse of power, the latter being of course the embryo, albeit the very womb from which all manner of corruption is hatched.

Integrity becomes a rare commodity. Integrity as a quality encompasses many of the best and most admirable traits in a man: honesty, uprightness, trustworthiness, fairness, loyalty and the courage to keep one’s word and one’s promises regardless of the consequences, is on the verge of extinction. It is drowned in the superficial campaigns and apathetic rhetoric. Their promises and speeches nakedly expose the sordid underbelly beneath their camouflage of their respectable façade. They literally only talk the talk, and fail to walk the talk.

Apparently, my husband and I are not the only one to lose confidence in the political showdown on this legislative election. Many share similar view on the election. It is not surprising the number of abstainers or non-voters tends to rise dramatically in line with the mounting dissatisfaction towards the worsening performance of the people’s representatives and resentment at the corruption rampant in either in the legislative or executives bodies. In 2004 election, the figure of non-voters rose sharply to more than double to 23.2 percent, and almost triple in the 2009 elections. I believe the figure in 2014 also increases significantly, which has been predicted to reach more than 40%.

A quick glance at the never-ending news headlines trumpeting the latest scandal and tale of corruption and immoral activities of politicians in the bodies shows the worsening conducts of political elites. Liar extraordinaire. Scoundrel without a shred of personal integrity. Unwilling to follow the laws they themselves created!

They have lost public trust because they act in opposite of the highest standards of honesty and integrity. They cannot hope to retain the confidence of the public unless they are recognized as honest and effective politicians, settling anything less than extremely high standards of integrity.

Instead of travelling the length and breadth of the country, addressing audiences at mass rallies where they appear alongside with dangdut singers and members handing out T-shirts and stickers, and often cash, these politicians should establish their integrity to gain the public trust. Without it, they are just like disgrace beggars in grand luxurious clothing amidst the slums that nobody would want to vote for them, let alone trust them.

They should realize that it is their responsibility to be truthful, ethical and effective - as leaders, lawmakers, and as human beings. If you give your word, keep it! If you say something, keep it truthful and don't try to spin it. One with integrity and honesty will perform their task to the best of their ability. Their own desires and needs will be put aside when on the job.

 In short, to effectively lead and garner support from their constituents, they should walk the talk and build an indisputable trust and integrity. Only when they succeed to nurture such qualities, then public will willingly cast their vote.

Having said that, I think that criminalizing non-voters or brand it as ‘haram’ is baseless and ridiculous. Not to vote is also the right of every citizen. Instead of condemning them, their behavior of distrusting politicians should be taken as a warning for politicians that they should rebuild their integrity and improve performance. It shows how people in the grass root have been so sick and disgusted with corruption. Thus, committed politician should take this as constructive criticisms to uphold zero tolerance for corrupt practices.

Kartini Day is more than just Donning Kebaya for Selfie

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/04/22/your-letters-more-just-donning-kebaya.html

Taking idle stroll at the shopping mall, one crowded spot instantly drew my attention. Well...it's long holiday, what would you expect other than fully-packed shopping malls right? Guess what? If it's mating season...ops, sorry... I mean wedding season, then women flocking at the kebaya (Javanese traditional attire) shop is not too alarming. Something hit me afterwards. Next week, Indonesia will be celebrating Kartini Day. My office also officially requires its female staffs to wear kebaya. Ehm.. That's why these women turned the kebaya shop upside down to find the perfect one.

Yes, April 21^st, is the day Kartini, usually referred to by her title Raden Ajeng, was born into an aristocratic Javanese family in 1879. She lived in an era where education reserved only for men while discrimination due to gender and colonialism was vulgarly practiced.  Worse, religion along  with obsolete tradition were exploited to justify polygamy among the Javanese aristocrats and oppress women as socially inferior. She was a tragic victim of feudalism in the deeply patriarch society.

Kartini fought with her pen. Through her writing, she poured all her heart out; her liberated ideas, opinions and dreams for better future for women to be independent, free, liberated and educated. Through her letters, later on were compiled into a book called “Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang” (“Out of Darkness Into Light”) and published posthumously, she protested against feudalism and any obstacle for the development of Javanese women.

Her legacy remains strong until today as Indonesia women are still trying to make their way through a male-dominated society.

Ironically, as far as I remember, since my kindergarten, the Kartini Day is always annually commemorated with women and girls alike donning kebaya and ornate jewelry to schools or offices with elaborate hairstyle supposedly replicating the image of Kartini. The significance of the event is reduced to on how stylish we don our kebaya, taking selfie photos with our friends, and then upload them in the social media. Yes, it’s all about dressing up to bring out those sunnies and click that stylish selfie.

Sometimes, schools and offices busily organized activities to observe the day, usually involving best photo contest, cooking or flower arrangement all of which relate to domestic chores for women and the beauty to be exposed. Duh! Isn’t a setback for what Kartini has advocated for life?  

I personally think such activities do not capture Kartini’s spirit as a radical women’s emancipator whose brilliant ideas and thoughts are vividly captured in her writings. Instead of making the sometimes-artificial celebrations, I opine it is more in line to Kartini’s cause to discuss her letters to explore her thoughts and virtues about education, gender equality, impoverishment and discrimination against women.

Reading her letters, I could not help but admiring her spirit. The rigid social system, tradition, and religion did not break her down. Instead, she was committed to emancipate Javanese women to have equal education as with men. She strongly believes that education is the key to have freedom, as it would enable women to be independent by securing better job. Freedom and independence would consequently liberate women to choose a life they want, and not willingly surrendering their fate into the hands of men.

Often, I could feel her hopelessness and anguish to be free. She thought marriage was the cruel tool to imprison her into a lifetime bondage to a man she hardly knew. It was a cage to prevent her pursuing her dreams. Born into a polygamous family (which was widely practiced by the Javanese aristocrats during the Colonial era), she knew how bitter to have such a life. She further shared her thought that she was against polygamy and that a woman should have the choice to remain single, if she so desired.

I think her thought is so advanced, progressive and exceptional for a woman of the era when customs and traditions derived from hundreds of years of male-dominated society still ruled brutally.

Further, not only Kartini criticized the old customs and traditions of her tribe, she also boldly voiced her resentment on how the Colonial government did little to improve the life quality of her people. They mocked their lack of education, yet they disliked any Javanese who advanced above them. She thought it as an ambiguity attitude.

Although Kartini in the end surrendered to be married off to the 50 years old Rembang Regent at the age of 24 as his fourth wife, she did not extinguished her dreams. In exchange to her bondage and obedient, she requested to have her own school for girls to help them advanced and liberated.

It’s amazing to read her works in the early 20^th century that still mirrors the reality up to now. Her frustration with religion and traditions in relation to women’s rights is still, regrettably, relevant today. After more than a hundred years after Kartini’s death, even though arranged marriages and polygamous practices are mostly extinct, religious doctrines are still misinterpreted to serve the male patriarch society. This issue remains to be a definite handicap for the advancement of women’s rights in this country.

The cases range from being medieval to downright ridiculous such as the bylaws and regulations. Anachronistic regulations against women seem to be in vogue in some regions, especially in the autonomous province of Aceh. These clearly sexist regulations are clear setbacks for women’s rights that have been fought so hard by Kartini.

Ironically, during colonial era, Aceh has produced female heroines who played great significance in the course of Indonesia history. They led the struggle for independence against the Dutch.

Tjoet Nyak Dien is the celebrated 20th century rebel leader against Dutch colonialism who had great charisma and integrity. Admiral Malahayati is the first woman sea admiral in world history. Under Malahayati, the Aceh navy successfully defeated the Dutch in a sea battle and killed the latter’s leader Cornelis de Houtman in 1559. Malahayati’s 2,000 strong regiment of Inong balee, Aceh’s women soldiers, also courageously participated in the battlefield. Amazing, isn’t?  History has carved their names with golden ink.

However, hope remains as more and more intellectual women are coming forward to voice their opinions on gender equality.  Some even hold lofty position either in the government public posts or in international institutions.  Their voices will undoubtedly help shape the future of the struggle for equality between men and women in Indonesia. Along with women all over Indonesia, we have arduous tasks ahead to finish Kartini’s work towards gender equality in Indonesia with the betterment of rights for all women.

Happy Kartini Day!

GREEN CANYON: A SENSATIONAL NATURE ADVENTURE

Opening the trip in the year of the Horse 2014, again my husband and I joined a bunch of strangers from The Indonesian Roadtrip to experience the famous Green Canyon for body rafting on 7-8 March 2014. We chose the provider because it regularly offers various trips to various areas around Indonesia on the weekend. So, the good news, we don’t have to skip from work. Next, the minimal budget is quite tempting. Travelling doesn’t need to be expensive. With only Rp. 600,000.- we could discover another natural beauty of Indonesia.

Despite body rafting in Green Canyon, the trip also offered an excursion to Batu Karas and Batu Hiu beach in Pangandaran, West Java. Yet, of the three, I was mostly amazed by the grandeur of natural cavernous rocky walls with scattered fresh springs alongside the Cijulang River where we bodied-rafting. 

Geen Canyon is located in the Kertayasa Village, Ciamis, West Java, approximately 31 km from Pangandaran Beach. The name was introduced by tourists from France as the color of the Cijulang river is very green. The locals call it Cukang Taneuh, meaning a land bridge referring to a bridge connecting the two villages of Kertayasa and Batukaras.

Boarding on the tour bus, we departed from Plaza Semanggi at 8.30 p.m. There were 52 people on board, mostly group of doctors from RSCM Hospital. It took approximately of ten hours to reach Cukang Taneuh (with several stops). We arrived at the site at 7.00 a.m.

With only an hour to have breakfast and rest, we had to hurriedly prepare our gears; helmet, kneecap, life vest, and mountain-sandal. At 9.00 a.m, we were ushered to four open pickup trucks to take us to the entrance gate of the water adventure. Ehm… we were a bit like a flock of sheep ready for slaughter.

The graveled road was bumpy and winding ups and downs that we bounced back and forth. We clutched tightly at the reel bar. Our stomach churned. Our heads bumped. The ordeal lasted for half an hour. The coconut trees and other vegetations along the road provided a refuge and distraction from the torturing trucks.

Once, we stopped, we knew the ordeal was far from over. Gee, glad I have already used to such travel. We continued on foot, trekking along the narrow path lined with gnarled roots and wild shrubs. Due to the heavy rain the night before, the narro

w line was slippery and muddy. The path reminded me of the trekking line in the little forest in the back of my grandma’s village. I enjoyed this journey more than the truck. I could savor each plant and wild little flowers alongside the forest. The morning insects and birds chirped and sang melodious tunes. It’s just PERFECT!!!

After half an hour, I could hear the sound of water lapping up against the rocks at a distant. The sound got louder as we trudged along. Through the leaves I could catch glimpses of the river, its water shimmering faintly in the dim light. Thanks Heaven, the color is green, unspoiled by the rain.

 We all got so excited and pushed forward in a speed. Yet, as we climbed down the river, the steeply slippery rocky beds posed a greater challenge. 

We had to maneuver our ways until we arrived at this giant cave door. A pungent odor swiftly attacked my nostrils, coming from inside the cave. Our guides said the offensive smell resulted from the bats’ droppings and feces. 

Curiosity took hold of me. Carefully, I stepped inside the cave. The deeper I went, the stronger the odor attacked. Darkness prevented me to see the cave roofs, thus the bats. I backed out as I heard my husband’s frantic call to lure me out.

Stepping out of the cave, he gave me his disapproving look, lol. I grinned ear to ear to tease him.

After a group photo, the water adventure began. Reluctant to climb down further, several people and I jumped off the cliff. Off course, our guides directed the course as many rocks were barely visible below. It was sensational. A rush of adrenaline sent a renewed energy. And I floated by downstream!!!

The natural painting of the rocky cavernous walls is breathtaking. The river is flanked by two hills adorned with dense vegetation.  Along the river, a row of rocky cliffs decorated by stalactites and stalagmites covered with algae. Fabulous! 

As my body drifted under those reliefs, drops of fresh waters cascaded down, forming little rains in slow motion. Closing my eyes, I could hear their rhythm pattern, joined by the melodious sound of the rushing water.

The spring is also drinkable. I was lucky to have gulp of it as I didn’t have mineral water with me. The cold fresh water was sensational as with the surrounding panorama. It’s beautiful and captivating.

Oftimes, we had to hop from rock to rock, maneuvering our ways to avoid the strong current that was deemed too dangerous for body rafting. The slippery rocks combined with the slippery mud posed greater challenge for our small group. We panted, slipped, fell and bruised.

However, the lust vegetation around the river and the majestic view of the river walls had captivated me. Luckily, I used to play and swim along the river back in my hometown so the challenge was easy to conquer.

I also had an adrenalin rush jumping from various cliffs down to the rushing waters. It was fantastic, feeling my blood pumped rapidly to the heart as my body flew down and hit the water from the height of five to eight meters. Water started to fill my mouth and nose as I plunged. Gaping, my head slowly bobbed up for an air.

It was exhilarating as well as addicting that I jumped over and over again whenever I got the chance. My husband frantically screamed at my daredevil. Ehm... Perhaps he would give me a hard pull in my ears once we were on land...lol.

The experience is rewarding and refreshing. Not only Indonesia is rich with natural resources, but it also has many hidden natural beauties to discover.

Batu Hiu Beach

 

Play for Creativity

 http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/03/12/your-letters-playing-creativity.html

My nephew tugged at my elbow. His bright eyes locked into the colorful interlocking plastic bricks in the form of minifigures from children popular characters such as Thomas and Ninja Go stashed neatly at the bookshelves. I dragged him to the children’s books section. He didn’t bulge.

“Can I have one of those please?” He pleaded.

I looked into his pleading eyes and felt a tug on my heartstrings. I looked at its price tag. My jaw dropped. The price was too expensive. Instinctively, I quickly turned around to go. Yet, the look of his expectant eyes tore down my walls. In the end, I yielded.

Since his encounter with Legos, my nephew love playing the game. He would deeply absorbed to assemble and construct various objects mostly in the form of robots and vehicles. He would put them together, taking them apart, then reassemble those colorful bricks. He didn’t have to read the manual. He just watched the design and pictures and put them on action. He learnt by doing. Often, he would race with his friends on this game.

I have to admit that he is skillful in the art, creating various objects with such speed. I could not compete with him. I am so lame in that game.

Perhaps, that’s what make Legos’ popularity remains high for over half a century. In this age of electronic games and hi tech toys, we often forget that it is often the simplest of inventions that can entertain a child for a long period of time. Lego has this concept, combining the traditional game with storytelling while maintaining its deliverable products’ quality.

The millions of plastic blocks fit together. Not a single brick snap or collapse. Through its products development, it sees that what kids want to do with those blocks is to tell stories. For that reason, Lego makes or licenses the stories they want to tell such as Indiana Jones, Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story and Star Wars.

My nephew also loves to play kelereng or gundu (marbles) and layang-layang or kite flying. These traditional games are economically affordable for all, easy to play, fun and are commonly played by most Indonesian children. Even adults often play the games as well.

Frankly speaking, I would rather see my nephew playing with legos, or any other hands-on toys than the state of-the-art, high tech computer games. I would rather have him turn off the TV and electronics, let him play and have fun, than passively entertained by or minimally interacting by way of a keyboard or control pad with an electronic device that confines their world in one tiny spot.

On the contrary, Lego and any other hands-on toys as well as the traditional games compel children to be creative and smarter. They make them develop their own creativity and skills. They also require the kids to physically active.

In spite of everything, play is the work of a child. Toys and traditional games are tools in which the children learn about their world, themselves and others. These games help kids to be active, make choices and figure out how things work.

So, let’s our kids play more outdoors. Do not let them glued to their electronic screen! Let them interact with the real world and learn about life step by step instead of taking instant lessons from online games that sometimes bring more negative influences. Let them play for fun! Let their creativity takes flight and free!