Marlin Rising After the Loss of Both Parents

Marlin’s life changed before he had time to understand it. At the age of 12, he lost his father. Just two months later, his mother left to migrate to Sulawesi in search of work. From that moment on, Marlin—a young boy from South Central Timor (TTS), East Nusa Tenggara—grew up without the presence of either parent.

Still very young, Marlin had to live with relatives on his mother’s side of the family. Life was far from easy, but despite the limitations, he managed to complete his vocational high school education in 2020. After graduating, however, he faced a daunting question: How would he survive?

Instead of migrating or seeking work in the city, Marlin chose to stay and farm in his village. The decision was rooted in familiarity—farming was a skill he had known since childhood, though only in traditional forms. He realized, however, that if he wanted to succeed, he would need to change both his mindset and his farming methods.

In 2020, Marlin began receiving mentoring through the Green Skill 2.0 program implemented by Yayasan Plan International Indonesia. Over the course of two years, he learned how to manage land more efficiently, plan crop cycles, and work collectively with others. Gradually, his perspective on farming shifted. Agriculture was no longer just a way to survive—it became a business with real growth potential.

A Breakthrough Harvest

The transformation became tangible in 2022, when Marlin’s farm—together with his group—was selected as the site for a grand harvest event under the Green Skill 2.0 program. The event was attended by the Regent of South Central Timor and the Executive Director of Plan Indonesia, Dini Widiastuti.

“This moment was one of my proudest,” Marlin recalled. “I was able to take part in a harvest alongside the number one leader in TTS and the number one leader of Plan Indonesia.”

During the harvest, Marlin and his group earned IDR 15 million—an amount they had never achieved before. Prior to the program, their farming was entirely traditional and generated very limited income. The success of the harvest strengthened Marlin’s belief that farming could offer a promising livelihood for young people in rural areas.

After the harvest, Marlin briefly decided to visit his mother in Sulawesi and look for work there. But after a few months, he chose to return home.

“I couldn’t settle there, so I decided to come back,” he said.

That decision turned out to be the gateway to even greater opportunities.

Joining the YLAF Program

In 2024, Marlin and his group joined the Youth-Led Agri-Food (YLAF) program, implemented by Plan Indonesia with support from Citi Foundation in South Central Timor. The program focuses on strengthening youth-led agriculture and egg-laying poultry farming to support local food security.

Through YLAF, Marlin received 150 laying hens, complete with a chicken coop and feed for the first three months. His group also independently built additional facilities to scale up their poultry business. From egg production alone, the group now earns approximately IDR 6–7 million per month.

In addition, the group received agricultural equipment such as hand tractors, drip irrigation hoses, and other tools. With this support, they are now able to farm more efficiently, producing vegetables including tomatoes, chives, long beans, pakcoy, and chilies, generating an average income of IDR 3–4 million per harvest.

Encouraged by their progress, Marlin and his group applied for a Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) loan worth IDR 100 million from Bank Rakyat Indonesia. The loan was approved and used to build a new chicken coop with a capacity of 250 laying hens, which is already in operation. Marlin has also begun raising broiler chickens, starting with 100 chicks.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved,” Marlin said. “I’m grateful I decided to return to my village. If I had stayed away, my income might never have reached this level.”

Looking Ahead

Although the YLAF mentoring phase has ended, Marlin and his group are determined to continue moving forward. They plan to build an egg kiosk along the main road to make selling and storing eggs easier—especially during the rainy season, when access to the village becomes difficult. They also aim to expand their market network so their products can reach a wider audience.

Marlin’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and courage in decision-making. From a boy who lost both parents at the age of 12, Marlin has grown into an empowered young man—able to manage his life strategically, work collectively, and build success from the land where he was born.