Photo: Ibu Marsiyem with Women’s Group in Panggang, Gunung Kidul
Mrs. Marsiyem is a member of the Women's Group in Giriharjo, Gunungkidul. When discussing this picture, she couldn't hold back her tears. The photo holds deep significance, marking the moment she finally reclaimed herself and dared to become actively involved in the group's activities.
For years, after the loss of her son, Mrs. Marsiyem lived in profound pain. She became a recluse, avoiding social activities and rarely leaving her house. When the CRPP program was launched, she initially joined as a passive member—she would stand outside the room, listening, but never speaking or engaging with others. She kept entirely to herself, lingering just behind the meeting space.
The turning point arrived one day when courage finally took root. For the very first time, Mrs. Marsiyem stepped inside the room and joined the discussion. She sat with the other members, shared her opinion, and became actively involved. The photograph was taken immediately after that discussion—it was the very first picture she allowed herself to be in after her period of intense grief.
For Mrs. Marsiyem, this photo is more than mere documentation. It is a symbol of healing and recovery from her pain. It represents the small but vital step she took to emerge from her suffering, find the courage to engage, and reconnect with her community.
Photo: Ibu Nurnani with the celery she harvested from her family's farmland
Mrs. Nurnani is a member of the women's group from Girimulyo, Gunungkidul. This is her holding the celery she harvested from her family's farmland in Magelang—this picture shows how proud she is.
In the women's group, she is actively involved in resilience activities. One of these activities is training on organic fertilizer. In the village, organic fertilizer was not commonly used because the majority of farmers relied on chemical fertilizers, as they yielded better results, even though the health impact was not considered, as the effects were unknown, and using organic fertilizer was unfamiliar. However, Mrs. Nurnani was eager to start. She used organic fertilizer, and the result was extraordinary. So she shared the knowledge with the people around her, including her family.
That experience motivated her to share. She then gave the organic fertilizer to her mother-in-law, who lives in Magelang. Unexpectedly, the fertilizer yielded an even more abundant harvest. The celery plants thrived, and could even be sold at a higher price. When harvest time arrived, Ibu Nurnani was invited directly to witness the results. The moment she embraced the fresh celery stalks was captured in a photo, which she recounts with great pride.
The photo is not just about a successful harvest; it's about the journey of a woman who dared to try, experiment, and subsequently inspired her family and the community outside her village. Through the more environmentally friendly organic fertilizer, Ibu Nurnani saw how a small innovation could provide great benefits—for farmers, the environment, and the future of more sustainable agriculture.