Yemima: The Resilient Backbone of Her Family

Yemima (34) is a portrait of resilience—an eldest child who chose to stay, sacrifice, and persevere for the future of her family. She is not only a farmer or a sister. She is the backbone of her household, a woman who transformed limitations into strength.

In 2009, Yemima graduated from a vocational high school with a major in accounting. Like many young people, she had a big dream: to become a police officer. She even entered the recruitment process, but her dream was cut short due to financial constraints. Her parents, subsistence farmers, could not afford the high costs required for the selection process.

At one point, her parents considered selling their land to support her dream. Yemima refused.

“We shouldn’t sell the land,” she recalled saying. “I felt sorry for my younger siblings. And if we sold it, where would we live?”

It was not an easy decision. Yemima knew that by refusing, she was closing the door on her own dream. But she chose her family and her siblings’ future over personal ambition.

As the eldest of four children, Yemima carries a heavy responsibility. She has two younger brothers and one younger sister who still need education and a stable home. Today, her youngest sister is even able to pursue higher education in Jakarta—an achievement made possible by Yemima’s role in supporting the family.

Although she did not become a police officer, Yemima did not give up on being useful to others. In 2014, she became a volunteer with Yayasan Plan International Indonesia, an organization focused on children’s rights and gender equality. Her involvement began with her love for children and her close connection to the organization—one of her siblings had previously been a sponsored child. By frequently accompanying her sibling to activities, Yemima eventually became an active volunteer herself.

Alongside volunteering, Yemima dedicated herself as an early childhood education (PAUD) teacher. For 15 years, she nurtured and taught young children in her village. However, in 2024, she made a difficult decision to step away from teaching to focus on agriculture and livestock—an option that would later transform her life.

Finding a New Path Through Agriculture

Yemima’s turning point came in 2019, when she joined the Green Skill program, which provided training in horticultural farming. Through this program, she gained new skills—from land preparation and planting techniques to post-harvest handling and marketing.

In 2024, she continued her journey by joining the Youth-Led Agri-Food (YLAF) program. Implemented by Plan Indonesia with support from Citi Foundation, the program aims to strengthen the independence of young farmers in Soe, East Nusa Tenggara—particularly in agriculture and egg-laying poultry farming—to support local food security and reduce stunting in the long term.

Through YLAF, Yemima received leadership training, public speaking skills, and technical knowledge, including egg-laying poultry farming. She also received equipment support that significantly boosted her family’s agricultural productivity.

“My family and I can now farm in a more modern and efficient way,” Yemima shared. “We’re able to cultivate larger areas using a cultivator or hand tractor provided through Plan Indonesia. We also received drip irrigation equipment and water pumps.”

Before this support, Yemima’s family farmed using traditional methods, resulting in limited yields and income. With training and tools, everything changed. Today, Yemima and her family produce up to 300 kilograms of vegetables per week, supplying markets as far as North Central Timor Regency and contributing to the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. From vegetable sales alone, she earns around IDR 3 million in gross income per week.

In addition to farming, her egg-laying poultry business has become a new source of income. Although it has only been operating for about six months, it already generates IDR 5–7 million per month, after covering feed and transportation costs.

A New Chapter for Yemima’s Family

With these combined incomes, Yemima and her family were able to build a new house next to their old one. Every construction material—from wood to roofing—was purchased using income from selling vegetables and eggs.

“Last week, we earned around IDR 3 million from supplying the nutrition program,” Yemima recalled. “We immediately used about IDR 1.5 million to buy wood for the roof.”

She added, “I’m deeply grateful. Now I can support my siblings’ education, help my sister who is in college, and assist my parents in building our home.”

Today, Yemima has become the backbone of her family. As her parents grow older and can no longer farm as before, she has taken on the responsibility with strength and determination.

Beyond supporting her household, Yemima has become a source of inspiration for young people in her village.

“Never give up,” she says. “When opportunities come, take them. Don’t be afraid to try something new.”

Yemima’s story shows that with courage, hard work, and the right support, dreams can be rebuilt—even when original aspirations must be set aside. From a young woman forced to bury her dream, Yemima has become a successful farmer and livestock entrepreneur. She stands as living proof that women can be leaders, drivers of change, and pillars of resilience—even in the face of limitation.