Jenny had always known that she was different. Growing up in Bandung, she felt out of place among the other boys in her neighborhood. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that she learned about what it meant to be transgender, and she finally felt like she had a label that fit her true identity.
But when she told her family, they didn’t understand. They told her she was confused and that she needed to change her mind. They didn’t accept her chosen gender, and it broke her heart. She knew she had to leave home.
Jenny arrived in Jogja in the early 2000s, with nothing but the clothes on her back and a determination to live her life on her own terms. She started busking on the streets, singing and dancing to earn money to survive. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to get by.
As time went on, Jenny began to connect with other transgender women in Jogja. She learned about their struggles and their dreams, and she knew that she wanted to help. She started volunteering as a social worker, offering support and resources to the transgender community.
Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and everything changed. Jenny’s busking income dried up, and she struggled to make ends meet. But then she heard about Harapan Fian’s crisis recovery program, and she applied to be a beneficiary.
Jenny was accepted into the program and was able to participate in a sewing workshop. She learned how to create beautiful clothes and accessories, and she even started selling them online. The income she earned from her sewing helped her pay her rent and buy food for herself and her friends.
Now, Jenny is still actively involved with Harapan Fian, working on the membaur project to support other transgender women in Jogja. She’s found a community that accepts and loves her for who she is, and she’s grateful for the support that has helped her thrive during these difficult times.