Empowering disadvantaged young people in Indonesia

Dear all readers of GlobalGiving Reports,

This time I would like to share you the story about Bunga, a young woman who also joins YCM after she finished her high school (2017) in Kebumen, an area in Central Java province (FYI our organization is located in West Java province). I sent her story on GlobalGiving report in 2018 and below her brief background taken from that report:

My name is Bunga. I’m 19 years old and came from Kebumen, Central Java. My mother works as a servant for another family. My father passed away when I was 14 years old, and I have six siblings. I graduated from SMAN 1 Kebumen (Senior High School). In 2017, I moved to Bogor. I came to Bogor to join my sister who had moved to Bogor long before me.
In Bogor, I try to keep myself busy and useful and luckily, I got a chance to assist the kindergarten teacher, in the morning. Besides the morning teaching, I help my sister with chores like cleaning up her house, taking care of her children and preparing her products (herbs) that she usually sells for the restaurants in Bogor. 
However, I wanted to do something more than those things, something that would improve my knowledge, skills and open up more opportunities for my life. I started to seek information regarding courses, but I did not have much money. My sister recommended me YCM and YCM has given me a chance to have a better life.

Well, the story about Bunga above was only a part of her beginning journey in Bogor and YCM. She definitely can take the benefit of joining YCM whole heartedly. She improves herself a lot! Gaining her confidence more than before, as she can reduce her weight about 32 kg! Her weight was 99 kg when she just came to Bogor and now 67 kg! It is amazing on how she maintains her discipline and her strong desire to reduce her weight and to be able to study law in a university. She is a typical of person who does not easily give up on her life’s condition. She fights her bumpy roads and gradually she reaps what she sowed. This is her latest story:

In this world, there are many things that I want to explore. But before that, I know the most important thing that I need to know more, first is about myself. I get through a lot of time to accept myself, about who am I. Before, I always felt insecure and comparing myself to others. That thought devoured my confidence in a negative way. Therefore, I was in a point where I felt so fed up with it. So, I decided to change it. I fight my negative feeling and I said it to myself “This time I have to accept everything. Then move on to be a better person”. One big step to love myself is losing my weight. I realized that I hurt myself with my hand. I blame the situation that made me fat and underestimate everything. But actually, the one who made it, is me, not the situation or other people. Then, I discussed this matter to one of YCM’s mentor. She recommended me to try a calorie deficit diet and do exercise like volleyball and running. I have been doing it intensively for two years. Two keys that made me successful on my goal to lose my weight are discipline and commitment! I lose 32 kg! I found the answer on how to get rid my insecurity and accept myself more. I feel good about myself and healthier now that’s the most important thing.

I can also accomplish another goal of mine! My other goal is to continue my study law in a university, but because of my family’s financial condition it was like an unreachable dream. My siblings are already overwhelmed with their families’ economic condition. My dad passed away couple years ago (he was only a junkman) and my mum’s daily wage only enough for herself to survive.

Since I join YCM, I get the assistance on how to improve myself and also a scholarship to continue my study. Some generous donors through YCM supports me to study law for admission and first year in a university in Bogor. The second year of university, I get a scholarship from an association that also knows YCM’s well. I received two third tuition’s fee and I pay the rest of the fees. I work as a freelancer (private tutoring) to earn some money for the rest of my fees. Later, I would like to take International Law as my major study. I do not let the donators to regret themselves for donating their money for my study, I keep my discipline and motivate my self to gain my best. As a result, during the whole two years of study (4 semesters), my GPA is not disappointing, I can get 3.88 out of 4 with only three Bs from 35 subjects (I get A mostly).

I am so thankful for being able to achieve my goals. All the supporters and donators help me on achieving them. Even during this difficult time of Covid-19 pandemic, YCM supports on the tools for me to do online lessons has helped me a lot. I can use the internet YCM, the spacious place to learn and also its laptop. I can concentrate to learn instead of doing it at my sister’s rented flat.

I consider myself lucky to be able to join YCM, to gain my goals and to be surrounded by positive people. I really hope I can also pass the positivity to others. Thanks a lot to all supporters and donators of GlobalGiving!