VIVAnews - Being a widow perhaps is not a favorable situation. However, this is exactly what many women in Maccini Village, Tamalate District, are.
These include Salma Daeng Kebo, a widow from Sulawesi, who has succeeded in becoming a motivator for a group of aged widows who has been living together for years.
When VIVAnews visited her house that afternoon, sounds of sewing machines can be heard across the old house where a number of elderly people are living the rest of their lives.
One of them, Daeng Kebo, despite being 58 years old, has been busy sewing with the help of her old Singer's sewing machine.
The machine, invented by Isaac Merit Singer, an American businessman who successfully mass-produced the sewing machine in 1860, is quite old even for a machine.
Today, a group of elderly widows still use these century-old sewing machines. Regardless of their exhaustion, the old ladies seem eager to finish their orders. “Some of these orders have to be delivered by tomorrow, so we must finish them this afternoon,” said Daeng Kebo while fixing her glasses.
After her work was done, Daeng Kabo went to see VIVAnews in her house at Deppasawi Dalam Lorong 1 Street, No 176, Maccini Sombala village, Tamalate district, Makassar.
Daeng Kebo is one of dozens of widows living in Maccini Sombala. She has been a widow for almost 20 years, since 28 September 1989. “My husband died in an accident,” she said.
She recalled how tough her life was in those days, given her widow status and the necessity to feed her six children. At first, she felt embarrassed with her status, especially when she hung out with her neighbors. “In those days, being a widow is tough. You must have a big heart,” she added.
Nevertheless, doing nothing meant death for Daeng Kebo, as well as for her children. Therefore, she tried hard to continue with her life and her children. Her widow status did not prevent her from fighting for her life. She believed that she had a chance at having a decent life.
Fortunately, she can sew. “This skill helped me fulfill my family needs,” she said enthusiastically.
When nobody needed her service, Daeng Kebo changed briefly changed her profession and became a trader. She made cookies and sold them around her neighborhood.
After being a widow for six years, Daeng Kebo remarried to Nasir. However, her happiness did not last long since Nasir, who was younger, soon asked for a divorce. “My heart ached again. So I decided then and there to learn to live by myself,” she said smiling. And, it turned out that her will and commitment survived up until today.
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Her bitter experience helped her found a foundation that accommodates widow both by death and divorce.
She became a motivator for tens and even hundreds of widows, in that slum area. For years, she became the head of the “family” as well as a woman activist.
She was the chairperson of KSM Muri-muria, a non-government organization, under the auspices of Yayasan Mitra Bangsa (Yasmib). It was founded around 1997, under her initiative along with three of her friends: Daeng Nur, Ibu Ros and Ramlah. All four were widows.
The main focus of the foundation is to help the widows in Maccini Sombala village. “I know how tough it is being a widow. Therefore, Yasmib focused its activity in helping these widows,” she said.
Yasmib teach these widows several skills, including sewing and making paper flowers. These activities, she added, help improve the well-being of these widows.
They study at four learning centers, which are actually the houses of its founders: Daeng Kebo, Daeng Nur, Ros, and Ramlah. Each learning center accommodated to no less than 10 widows.
Daeng Kebo is currently involved in Poor People Struggle Committee (KPRM), one of many pro-poor organizations under the UPC (Urban Poor Consortium) network groups, led by Wardah Hafidz. In this organization, Daeng Kebo served as treasurer. “I joined the organization because they are really concerned with poverty issues in our community,” said Daeng Kebo as she played with her grandchildren.
She frequently became a field coordinator for KPRM, each time the organization holds a demonstration defending the rights of the poor. There are pictures on the wall showing her making speeches in front of other KRPM members. According to her, it was part of political learning which all women should know about.
“I'm proud of my work because (thanks to it) I have been sent to India to study poverty. Only few people have opportunity to go abroad for their duties,” she said who also holds the position as the head of her neighborhood, RT 06, Maccini Sombala.
She hopes that all of her activities could inspire other widows so they could continue with their lives and have enough confidence to face life's daily routine. “Being a widow does not mean your life is over,” she said.
Coverage by: Rahmat Zeena | Makassar
Translated by: Edwin Solahuddin
