Empowering disadvantaged young people in Indonesia

An English proverb says: Where there is a will, there is a way. A young woman named Alma proves it for her life. Let me introduce you to her then...

Meet Alma, a vibrant and friendly young woman who joined YCM some years ago. She joined YCM when she was 14 years old. She is the eldest of 5 siblings. Her father is a humble religion teacher, and her mother is wandering around the kampong selling frozen foods door to door. They used to live a very simple life as their parents earned very small amount of money for their lives. I remember when the kids were still very young, they lived in a small rented “house” perhaps the area of the building was less than 30 square meters for 7 people all together. No proper bedroom for kids or parents at all. They were packed in one square of room. Alma and her siblings joined YCM, although the most prominent one was her! Her smile, her friendly body language to everyone showed us how poverty did not limit her to stay happy and always full of enthusiasm.

Alma joined YCM as she lived nearby and was curious about the activities. She was surprised as so many things she learnt beside English at that time. How she learnt to develop her character, encourage herself to dream high and having her second home at YCM. When I asked her to draw her dream (she is good in drawing, also with her siblings), she drew herself holding a microphone in front of the audience. She told us that she dreamt of becoming a TV presenter or Master of Ceremony (MC) of events. Now, after more than 10 years she told us about her dream, she is proudly proving us that she could reach her dream.  Alma, a cute smiley little girl has become a well-known weddings’ MC and events' presenter. She proves us that she can go beyond the limitation.

When Alma finished her junior high school, she received a scholarship to continue her study to a senior high school from one of our former volunteers. At that time, our volunteer would love to give two scholarships for one female and one male students. Alma was chosen as her friendly personality impressed her a lot. After Alma graduated from a senior high school, she decided to look for a work and collected money to be able to continue her education and helped her parents’ financial condition.  She worked as an administration staff in a footwear store, when she collected enough money to register in a university she decided to study communication. She kept working from 8 am until 5 pm, then she continued to go to her university for night classes. She arrived home at around 10 or 11 pm and the next morning she left home at around 7 am again for work. She did it for about more than a year and then she applied for a scholarship from a women association project in Jakarta.

Since she received scholarship, she could concentrated on her study and decided to give up her full time work and then worked casually as an MC for a wedding organizer and events.  She enjoyed her study and her freelance works so much.

Alma said that she enjoyed her time so much at YCM as a “student” and when she received a scholarship, she paid it forward by sharing her knowledge to the junior students at YCM. YCM is a place where she and others could learn the skills and knowledge without feeling burdened and pressured. They enjoyed the creativity to learn the life skills and motivated to change their lives to be better.

Alma is a role model for everyone at YCM. She proved us that she can reach her dream. She helps her family to have a better life. She is an MC and a presenter now. She told me once she was a TV presenter for a gathering event. When she did it, she told herself that that was what she dreamt about. Now, she is also having a wedding organizer named “Life Partner Organizer”. She is in cooperation with other vendors in Bogor city.

YCM gives impacts to many young people’s lives. Alma’s characters and skills were shaped at YCM, she is so grateful that she decided to join and involved at YCM. Donators are impacting the lives of us who struggle for their future. Big thanks from Alma and YCM for our donators and supporters!