Kartini's Inspiring Story Tough, From Surviving to Rising for Family

Mak Netty's story, Kartini's real struggle is visible. (doc. GrabModal by Ovo Finansial)

JAKARTA - The struggle of women in supporting the family often takes place in silence, full of sacrifice, and far from the spotlight.

Moreover, in the midst of economic pressure and various challenges in life, many women have to take on the role of the main support for the family and even start again from scratch when circumstances force them to.

These stories are a real picture of the resilience of Indonesian women in facing difficult situations. Moreover, this month we commemorate Kartini Day to appreciate the role of women in various aspects of life.

The inspirational story of Mak Netty, for example, is that she is an online motorcycle taxi driver who started working at the age of over 50.

Previously, he had worked as a teacher before having to stop to care for his parents. When her husband fell ill and needed medical expenses, Mak Netty took on the role of the backbone of the family.

With economic limitations, he still works and uses access to funding to meet daily needs. The initial loan he took was used for his husband's medical expenses. In the midst of difficult conditions, he also had to ensure that he could still work, including when his work tools such as mobile phones were damaged.

"However, when my husband's health condition is declining, I have to work harder and be more active to help with his treatment costs, as well as for the family's needs," he said, as quoted from a press release from GrabModal by Ovo Finansial to VOI, Wednesday, April 29.

Even though she has now lost her husband, Mak Netty still chooses to live independently. She even had to face a skewed view from some of her closest people regarding her work. However, this did not discourage her.

"As long as the work is good and does not violate the rules, why should we be ashamed? The important thing is that we can all help our families," he said.

She is also active in the community of female drivers, sharing experiences and giving encouragement to her colleagues to remain confident and not easily give up.

Fitri Farhatani, a female fighter in the present era. (doc. GrabModal by Ovo Finansial)

Another story comes from Fitri Farhatani, a home-based business owner in Serang, Banten, who had to rebuild his life after suffering huge losses due to digital fraud. His family's savings worth hundreds of millions of rupiah disappeared, leaving financial pressure and conflict in the household.

From this condition, Fitri started a small business from home with limited capital. He sold food in a simple way, and unexpectedly his merchandise was immediately sold out on the first day. Since then, his business has slowly grown and become a new source of income for the family.

"At first I hoped I could get Rp50 thousand to Rp100 thousand a day, that's all. But it turns out that this business can be a new hope for our family," he said.

At the beginning of the journey, he ran the business almost alone. But over time, her husband began to get involved and their relationship slowly improved. The business not only helped the economy, but also restored hope in the family.

As the business grew, Fitri began to utilize financing facilities to increase production capacity. For him, what he felt was not only additional capital, but also a sense of calm in running a business.

Now, the business he started from a simple kitchen has grown rapidly. He even managed to recover the family's financial condition and realize the dream of owning a house.

The story of Mak Netty and Fitri reflects the spirit of Indonesian women today who are not easily defeated. Some are fighting on the streets, while others are building hope from the kitchen. Both show that women are capable of being tough and independent figures in the face of limitations.

"You can cry, but you still have to walk," said Mak Netty.

"Never be afraid to start. Women must also be empowered and believe in themselves," added Fitri.

Stories like this serve as a reminder that the struggle of women alias Kartini today is not always seen as big, but has a real impact on the family and the surrounding environment.

Inclusive financial support is also one of the important factors that help them remain productive and continue to face various challenges in life.