The Limitless Potential of Girl Entrepreneurs

A passionate advocate for girls’ and women’s rights, power and leadership, Ningsi, 20, says she wants to see a world where all girls and women can reach their full potential and have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. “Once we realise our potential, we should not let others steer us, we should drive ourselves,” she says.

From a small community in Soe, Indonesia, Ningsi has a long history with Plan International, having joined our sponsorship programme at a young age. She later received a scholarship from the organisation as part of a partnership with IPMI International Business School in Jakarta to help girls from marginalised communities pursue a university education. 

Ningsi once lived in a remote village of a district which performs poorly on many human development indicators. Incidences of safeguarding cases and illegal migrant workers to neighbouring countries are high. Education for girls is not given priority and adolescent health remains largely neglected. The lives of girls in the rural communities of the district are governed by very rigid norms with their roles relegated to domestic work and child-bearing. Exploring the world outside their villages for higher education and work opportunities, taking important decisions for themselves and their families, representing their communities, speaking out or expressing grievances are considered only befitting for boys. 

Ningsi, who moved to Jakarta to pursue her dream of going to university, is studying Business Management and has had the opportunity to take part in other learning activities to develop her skills in leadership, advocacy, public speaking and advanced English. 

She met Plan staff in Soe when she was in Primary School. He identified her as a potential discussion leader for a community-based child protection group in her village. A discussion leader is a volunteer who is trained to facilitate life skill sessions with a group of children or adolescents in their locality. Under the the field staff’s supervision, Ningsi is trained to facilitate awareness of child rights and child protection to other children. 

“It wasn’t simple for me to persuade friends, come out of our house and speak out for ourselves. For someone who had never imagined stepping out of the village, to be able to go to Soe (the district capital) and to talk about child rights and child protection was nothing less than a dream. But, it also made me believe in dreams and beyond that it gave so many other girls like me hope and the courage to dream as well as improve my leadership skill, something I wasn’t aware way back then”. 

“It also made me believe in dreams and beyond that it gave so many other girls like me hope and the courage to dream”. 

As her confidence grows, she wants to become a successful business leader in her community and an advocate for change. “What inspires me is that I can do business better and share new knowledge about entrepreneurship with other girls. My mother is a single parent and she raised me in the traditional way, just like all the women in our community.” 

“I feel my voice is valued and heard. I have gained a sense of empowerment by running a small business with my friends. This has helped us to take control of our lives, stand up for our rights and build a business for ourselves.” 

Gender norms in Indonesia are deeply rooted in tradition and religion, and dictate that men are the breadwinners and women the nurturers. However, women are increasingly working outside the home and contributing to the family income, something Ningsi is keen to encourage. 

“My mother had me when she was still a teenager and it stopped her from getting an education because she had to take care of me and my grandparents,” Ningsi explains. “Now my mother is proud of me because she sees that dreams can come true every time she looks at me.” 

Ningsi’s entrepreneurial spirit developed early, and she and her friends started their first small business while she was still at school. “We use traditional materials that are sold in our community to make clutches and bags, which are very popular among young people and adults. Our business is doing well and we are proud of ourselves because we are able to earn a small income using our business management skills.” 

Now she wants to inspire other girls and show them that the road to success is achievable. “Lack of confidence can be a challenge for girls to overcome. Sometimes we don’t even trust ourselves because of the way others judge us, but we can do better,” she says. 

Ningsi says it’s important for girls to have the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns, and to be aware of their limitless potential. “I am blessed to be part of Plan International Indonesia. I have gained knowledge and skills that I thought I would never be able to achieve. My journey with Plan keeps me humble to do more and motivate other girls to do more.” Determined to lead by example and encourage other girls in her community to become entrepreneurs, Ningsi wants to see all girls and women become financially independent so they can support themselves and their families. 

“The main thing I’ve got since I joined with Plan is confidence. I used to look at the floor when people talked to me. Through the years of sponsorship and activities with Plan, I have been able to mix with anyone and network.” 

“The group discussions of Plan activities that I participated in, helped me identify and properly utilize my potential and excellence”. 

Ningsi has led awareness campaigns against violence and child abuse in her own way. She has further helped adolescent girls in her community to access health services through Adolescent Posyandu where she was once led the monthly health service before she moved to Jakarta. 

“After the years of experience, I have come to understand that the focus of the Plan work is actually to look beyond child marriage and tackle social norms in a way that girls can make informed life choices taking independent decisions. It is to spread awareness and education on child and youth rights which is so often neglected and also to create a space for the leadership of adolescent girls and boys,” says Ningsi. 

She becomes an example for other girls to follow and soon more girls are motivated to step in for the role.