“How when we have a desire and when we want to make a decision, we have the courage to speak.”

Indrawati's story

Gender equality • Indonesia22 Jan 2026

Indonesia: Indrawati is a child marriage survivor who later joined Gema Alam and learnt about her rights and gender equality, and persuaded her husband to let her pursue her dreams of higher education. She is currently a university student, tutor, and trusted Treasurer of BUMDes. Photo: M. Nugie and Andito Wasi/Oxfam. Oxfam acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Indrawati lives in Indonesia. She is a child marriage survivor who was taken out of school at age 16.
Indrawati was introduced to Oxfam's partner organisation Gema Alam, who supported her to learn about her rights and gender equality, and to share her knowledge with her husband.
Today, Indrawati is a university student, tutor and treasurer of a village enterprise. She is sharing her confidence and knowledge with her own daughter.

It’s about how we lead ourselves ... How when we have a desire and when we want to make a decision, we have the courage to speak.