Jul 19 2007
Poverty and Education
There
is a quite interesting true story in the local tabloid today. It is
about a girl who is now working as a migrant worker—a housemaid—in one
neighboring country of Indonesia.
is a quite interesting true story in the local tabloid today. It is
about a girl who is now working as a migrant worker—a housemaid—in one
neighboring country of Indonesia.
She
was born in a very poor family. When she was born, her poor parents had
to give her to one relative, a widow, because they did not have enough
money to raise her. They focused more on her older siblings. However,
as poor as her own parents, the widow could not support her education
well. She stopped supporting the writer’s education after she graduated
from elementary school. Luckily, her first sibling who already worked
at that time was willing to support her education until she graduated
from senior high school.
was born in a very poor family. When she was born, her poor parents had
to give her to one relative, a widow, because they did not have enough
money to raise her. They focused more on her older siblings. However,
as poor as her own parents, the widow could not support her education
well. She stopped supporting the writer’s education after she graduated
from elementary school. Luckily, her first sibling who already worked
at that time was willing to support her education until she graduated
from senior high school.
After
graduating from senior high school, she lived together with this first
sibling and helped doing household chores, taking care of her niece and
nephew. Unfortunately, the first sibling in fact treated her as unpaid
maid. Perhaps it was as a way to pay back for the fund for her
education?
graduating from senior high school, she lived together with this first
sibling and helped doing household chores, taking care of her niece and
nephew. Unfortunately, the first sibling in fact treated her as unpaid
maid. Perhaps it was as a way to pay back for the fund for her
education?
Feeling worried about her future, the writer who was smart enough, joined one PJTKI, one institution in Indonesia whose business is to send workers abroad. She worked in Malaysia
for four years. Her experience, luckily, belongs to the lucky migrant
workers who can get much money. Her plan actually was to get enough
money to continue her study to college. However then she changed her
mind after going home. When she saw that her adopted mother lived in an
almost broken house, she decided to use her money to help build a
decent house for the widow who raised her. This caused jealousy in her
own parents. Besides, the first sibling asked her to pay back all the
money she used to study in junior and senior high school. Her other
relatives also came to her to ask for her help in finance.
for four years. Her experience, luckily, belongs to the lucky migrant
workers who can get much money. Her plan actually was to get enough
money to continue her study to college. However then she changed her
mind after going home. When she saw that her adopted mother lived in an
almost broken house, she decided to use her money to help build a
decent house for the widow who raised her. This caused jealousy in her
own parents. Besides, the first sibling asked her to pay back all the
money she used to study in junior and senior high school. Her other
relatives also came to her to ask for her help in finance.
Her
disappointment because she could not make her dream come true—to
continue to study in college—made her go abroad again. This time she
worked in Hong Kong
as a housemaid too. She was “lucky” too because she got good employers.
Her problem was still the same—her relatives who kept asking her to
send them most of her paycheck.
disappointment because she could not make her dream come true—to
continue to study in college—made her go abroad again. This time she
worked in Hong Kong
as a housemaid too. She was “lucky” too because she got good employers.
Her problem was still the same—her relatives who kept asking her to
send them most of her paycheck.
However,
this time she was determined to continue her study. She started to be
strict to her relatives. She told them that she wanted to use her money
for her future investment—education. She wanted to study in Hong Kong
while she was still there. Of course her relatives were very
disappointed to hear that. They said that she had better think of
getting married, being a good wife, and taking care of children now
that she was almost thirty years old. However, she stayed put.
this time she was determined to continue her study. She started to be
strict to her relatives. She told them that she wanted to use her money
for her future investment—education. She wanted to study in Hong Kong
while she was still there. Of course her relatives were very
disappointed to hear that. They said that she had better think of
getting married, being a good wife, and taking care of children now
that she was almost thirty years old. However, she stayed put.
If you have any suggestion for her, you can send email to her email address at
****
Reading the above true story reminded me of …
To read the complete article click the following site:
http://afeministblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/poverty-and-education.html
