Fitri’s Story:

I am a single mother to a 23-year-old son. My life changed completely when I became pregnant. I was only two months along when my husband passed away, just two weeks after our wedding. Becoming a single mother made the world seem unbearably cruel. I had to raise my child alone, with no help from anyone. I had to stay strong for my son, support my parents, and pay the rent for the house we lived in. If suicide weren’t a sin, I might have given up a long time ago.

Despite it all, life has forced me to be strong, to smile even when I was breaking inside, just to hold on to my sanity. Carrying everything alone has not been easy. If it weren’t for the many responsibilities I carried, I might have stopped fighting. There were nights I cried quietly after everyone had gone to sleep, overwhelmed and unsure of who to turn to. But deep down, I knew giving up wasn’t the answer. For the sake of my child and my parents, I made the decision to work overseas as an Indonesian migrant worker in Singapore.

Alhamdulillah, I was placed with a kind employer. With the salary I received each month, I was able to support my parents and send my son to one of the best schools in Jakarta.

My son is the source of my strength. Every time we video-call and I see his smile, I am reminded why I must keep going: to give him all the love in the world and to ensure he grows up in an environment full of warmth and care, even without a father by his side. It has now been 23 years since I began this journey as a single mother. My life is far from perfect, but I am stronger than ever.

I’ve learned that happiness doesn’t always come from having a partner. It comes from being able to accept reality and striving to build a better future. I want my son to grow up happy, and to know that his mother is a fighter. This journey hasn’t been easy, but I believe that love and perseverance will continue to guide me forward. Being a single mother is not the end of the road. In fact, it is the beginning of a story of courage and determination.

For my portrait, I wanted to dress up like Raden Ajeng Kartini. She was an Indonesian woman who fought for girls’ education and women’s rights during a time when few women had a voice. Her courage opened the path for many women to dream beyond limits. Her story inspires me as an Indonesian domestic worker in Singapore. Like Kartini, I believe strength comes from compassion, from caring for others and helping fellow women rise. Even far from home, I try to keep her spirit alive through kindness, hard work, and support for my friends. Kartini showed that change begins with one woman’s courage, and this is a courage I try to live every day.