Women’s Resilience: Juana Tika’s Journey from the Streets to Her Dreams

Hi! My name is Juana Kartika Chandra, and I am the second child of three siblings. My brother joined the training at the TDC Cilincing, Jakarta a long time ago. And this is my story.

I still remember when I joined the program at the LP4Y Jakarta, which was renovated in October 2024. The center is located at the Red Nose Foundation center, which is close to the coast of Kalibaru, North Jakarta, where I live with my mom. Similar to other slums in Cilincing, I live in a crowded and dirty environment where people work as daily laborers, trash pickers, shell openers, fish sellers, and so on. As for me, I have had to work since I was little. My mom had me work as a shopkeeper in a clothing store, so I had to drop out of junior high school when I was in second grade. Maybe I was under 15 years old when I had to work for the first time. 

Do you know how I felt? I felt so lonely, and I wanted to be like others who don't have to work and can just study. I have no idea how much I earn, because my boss sends all of my money directly to my mom.

I had no choice. I used to live on the streets and endure tough conditions. My parents divorced when I was a child and are now living separately. My mom doesn’t have a stable job, so she offers herself as a helper to the neighbors. Meanwhile, my father lives alone in a small house without electricity or a phone, close to the TDC Jakarta center. Like my mom, my father is jobless, and he survives on the money sent by my brother, who already works in South Jakarta.

What about my little sister? She faced similar struggles. She finished junior high school but couldn’t continue her education due to financial problems.

I remember well what Coach Aulia asked me before:

If your parents don’t work, how can you survive?

I can say that… I can do anything to get food for my family. I used to look for vegetables or even grass in the rice fields to cook. I went to the main road to help park trucks, became a street singer, and did anything I could.

When I first joined LP4Y, I was so afraid and nervous because I couldn’t speak English. The environment was totally different. I met Coach Lea and Coach Qori. It was hard for me to even move my mouth to speak in English. Anyway, I am still dreaming of continuing my education in senior high school, and education is my goal. This wish that I said to everyone during my graduation to autonomy step, and I was crying a lot because it was stressing me out at first. 

Day by day, I forced myself to attend the training and learn how to speak English. I also learned many new things while discovering different divisions within LP4Y. I started with sports training, mobilization, connecting with the community, giving educational and awareness training to children, speaking in front of partners, and visiting many big companies. For me, the process of change was difficult. Maybe because I’m different, in terms of behavior and attitude, I find it hard to be professional.

Dealing with people - other Youth became the next challenge. It’s hard to work in a team, and sometimes I feel underestimated by others, but I always remind myself that no one can stop me from reaching my goals.

Be strong for yourself, don’t depend on others, keep trying, and everything will pass when we face difficulties. Stand firm for yourself, because if not you, who else will help you get to this point?

Being alone, abandoned, and having to be stronger for myself and my family, these characteristics helped me become the manager of a team and lead a division. After finishing the LP4Y program, I continued my journey at LP4Y's partner institution, PSBR or Social Rehabilitation Center for Youth Empowerment, one of the vocational training programs offered by the Jakarta government in collaboration with Korean KOICA. There, I developed my cooking skills for six months to a year while continuing my studies to secure a better job in the future.

For me, LP4Y is like a family, where I can seek support for my personal and professional development. Many activities and training have built my confidence to fight for what I want. Through LP4Y’s partnerships, I am now taking the next step in deepening my knowledge in cooking and baking. As I always tell everyone, I dream of owning my own restaurant after finishing my education, getting a better job, and saving money for my business. It’s a true testament to women’s resilience, the courage to overcome, to lead, and to build a better future