The Spirit of a Young Kartini for the Future of Enrekang's Children

Until today, the spirit of Kartini still lives on in the dreams of Indonesian women. "After darkness, comes light"—a phrase that continues to inspire us to keep fighting for a better future for women and for Indonesia.

This same spirit can be found in Nurul Aqilah, or Qila as she is often called. She has a big dream—to improve the nutrition and growth of children in Enrekang, the land where she was born.
 

The Rise of the Kartini Spirit

Since 2013, Nurul Aqilah has been a sponsored child of Gugah Nurani Indonesia (GNI). At that time, she was only 9 years old and in 2nd grade. Through many activities she joined, her Kartini spirit grew and turned into real actions for the future of Enrekang’s children.

While being a GNI sponsored child, Aqila often received gifts. She remembers the free food and milk programs, which made her happy because many of her needs were met. But there’s one memory that stood out most to her.

Aqila once received a letter. It was the first time she got a letter in a foreign language. Inside the envelope, there was also a photo of a beautiful woman—her sponsor from Korea. This woman was a hardworking professional, and she really inspired Aqila. She was so happy that she often brought the letter to school to show her friends.
 

Taking the First Steps to Contribute

As a sponsored child, Aqila saw many of GNI’s activities. This made her want to join in and help too. “I felt happy meeting and playing with the younger sponsored children,” she said. This feeling pushed her to contribute more, and in 2023, she officially became a GNI volunteer. “I’m happy to finally be a part of GNI as a volunteer and help improve the future of Indonesian children.”

By joining GNI activities, Aqila saw the real condition of children in Enrekang. Many were suffering from stunting and poor nutrition. “It made me really sad. I don’t want the children of Enrekang to grow up without proper nutrition and development.”

Working for the Health of Enrekang's Children

This sadness gave her the strength to do more. She decided to study public health in college. “I want to go directly into the community and stop this from getting worse. By learning about nutrition, I hope I can help people understand the importance of proper food and healthy growth for their children. I want Enrekang’s children to have a better future.”

We hope Aqila’s good intentions to improve the health of Enrekang’s children will come true. Let’s support the health of Indonesian children for a brighter future.

Also see:

Jumani Dream to Help Others

Gugah Mandiri Jeneponto Cooperative: Turning Hobbies into Income

Written and edited by: FD Team