They hope their story will inspire women in Linggam Permai Village to pursue self-reliance.
“We want more women to have the courage to try. You don’t need a large field—start with your own backyard,” said Natalia with conviction.
A Garden of Hope
In a quiet corner of Linggam Permai Village, Sintang Regency, a group of women armed with hoes and high spirits carefully tend to a 20-by-20-meter plot of land.
On this small patch of earth, lush green spinach, climbing long beans, and corn beginning to bear fruit stand as living proof of the determination of Natalia and the 22 members of the Kumang Berseri Women’s Group.
“We used to be ordinary women who often failed. Now, we’re confident farmers,”
said Natalia, the group’s leader, smiling proudly.
A Difficult Beginning
Before November 2024, Natalia and her friends had already tried several times to form groups—ranging from local women’s organizations to home-based initiatives. They even tried growing vegetables together but always failed.
“The harvests were never enough to sell. We often argued and then gave up,”
she recalled.
Those failures crushed their motivation—until the Gemawan Institute came along with a different kind of support.
Gemawan didn’t just deliver lectures or theories. They worked side by side, helping the women create work plans, clear land, and choose quality seeds.
“We were taught step by step: preparing the soil, planting, and even calculating costs and profits,”
explained Natalia.
Gradually, their small garden began to flourish. Spinach, long beans, corn, and peanuts thrived. Their first harvest sold out, leaving Rp300,000 in the group’s savings—a small number for some, but a meaningful milestone for them.
Togetherness Restores Confidence
For Natalia, the biggest change isn’t in the group’s savings or the size of the harvest—it’s in their unity.
“We learned to work as one. Before, when someone failed, we blamed each other. Now we remind one another—‘Come on, don’t be lazy! Tomorrow we have to water the plants!’”
she said enthusiastically.
Every morning, they take turns tending the garden, sharing tasks without ego or complaint.
Leadership has also transformed Natalia herself. Once shy to speak in public, she now confidently leads meetings, assigns tasks, and gently reminds late members.
“I used to be afraid to talk in front of people. Now I’m brave because I know my friends support me,”
she said with a grin.
Her confidence has inspired others. Members like Dinau, once quiet and reserved, are now eager to contribute ideas for marketing and product sales.
Turning Challenges into Lessons
Even with success, their journey hasn’t been smooth. Unpredictable weather and pest attacks once threatened their crops—but this time, they didn’t give up.
“We learned from Gemawan: if we fail, we evaluate and try again,”
Natalia explained.
They began recording watering schedules, making natural fertilizer, and rotating crops to keep the soil fertile.
The Rp300,000 savings also became a symbol of pride. Some of it was kept as capital for the next planting, while the rest went into buying new seeds.
“This is our own money. It feels amazing,”
said Fitri, the youngest member.
The group now plans to expand their land and add new crops like chili and tomatoes.
The Spirit of Women’s Independence
For Natalia, Kumang Berseri is more than a farming group—it’s a safe space for village women to prove that they can contribute to their family’s economy.
“My husband used to doubt me. Now, he’s the one helping deliver our harvest to the market,”
she laughed, radiating pride and hope.
They hope this story inspires more women in Linggam Permai to follow their path.
“We want more women to have the courage to try. You don’t need big land—just start from your yard,”
Natalia emphasized.
With a small garden and a big spirit, Natalia and the women of Kumang Berseri have proven that failure is not the end—it’s the first step toward meaningful pride and independence.
Writer: Natalia Kori, Gemawan Activist