Stories

Three Activists-cum-Former Migrant Workers from Wonosobo Shared Their Skills and Stories

That afternoon three former migrant workers in Wonosobo, Retno, Maria and Anissa shared stories of their current lives at Istana Rumbia, a library in Wonosobo, Central Java. All three women are now actively helping the activities carried out in Wonosobo by SARI Solo. SARI Solo is a working of Migrant CARE, one of MAMPU main partners. Their work is to ensure the protection of women migrant workers. The presence MAMPU Program through SARI Solo in Wonosobo, encouraged the three former migrant workers to fight for the rights of prospective migrant workers, who are still working abroad and who had returned to Indonesia through a program called Desa Peduli Buruh Migran (DESBUMI).

The first story comes from Retno Palupi. There are three activities that she does after returning to Indonesia. First, she is now an English teacher at Istana Rumbia, a library or study hall especially for children of migrant workers who are currently working abroad. Retno who used to work for five years in Singapore, have a good English skills. Therefore, Retno teach children to write and talk in English every Sunday.

“The children here are very happy to learn English. They are always eager to learn more. I get carried away teaching them,“ said Retno.

Second, Retno works at a diner, this is her main source of income now. Lastly, Retno is very active in a group of former migrant workers called MUIWO (Migrant Care United Indonesia Wonosobo) as the Chairman. In the organisation which built by SARI Solo, Retno coordinates members of the group which are former migrant workers. Her role is very strategic as she is the policy maker of the group. She aims to protect the prospective and former migrant workers and their families.

“Through this organisation, I hope to share my knowledge and experience and look into the problems of migrant workers in my area to find solutions,” she said.

Second story comes from Siti Mariam Ghozali, known as Maria, and who is the founder of Istana Rumbia, the library in which Retno works as an English teacher. Maria, who is a former migrant worker in Hongkong and Taiwan, understand how important it is to support the children of Indonesian migrant workers who are working abroad.

“This library exists as a place to learn and share knowledge for all communities, especially the children who are left behind their mothers to work abroad,” said Maria.

Besides that, Maria helps to build entrepreneurships among former migrant workers in Wonosobo. She works in the Village Consultative Department as the Secretary and as a resource person on small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“I saw many former migrant workers have had entrepreneurial success through my guidance. There are those who opened food stalls or set up home industries, such as preserved fruit, tempe chips and Batik,” said Maria who is also active as a trainee in an organisation called the Migrant Information Center.

The last story comes from Anissa Hanifa, a former migran worker in Malaysia and Hongkong. She now has a beauty parlor. This parlor is currently her main source of income. She is very open to share her skills with former migrant workers who are interested in following her steps.

Besides that, Anissa serves as an enumerator for the Wonosobo Regional Coordinator in SARI Solo. Through this, she is actively compiling complaints from migrant workers. She also advices and supports former migrant workers to go to vocational training centres in Wonosobo to gain the skills which can be used for to build small or medium businesses.

These three former migrant worker activists actively encouraging other former migrant workers that have set of skills and use them to create their own source of income within their area of living.

“I want the former migrant workers, especially women, to have their own source of income within her own area of living. So that they do not have to go back working abroad again. Leaving their country and family,” reveal Annisa.

Through DESBUMI program, they hope that the former migrant workers who already have skills are encouraged to build their own business within their area so that the business can bring benefits to themselves, their families, their communities and also to Indonesia.