A Girl Fights for Education

By Vebiati Lende

"Women do not need to study higher, women work only in the kitchen, rice fields and farms, so what is having further education for?". Those were the words that my dad said when his daughters were eager to continue their education with no exception for me.

I am Vebiati Lende from Mareda Kalada, Southwest Sumba. Since I was in senior high school I wanted to continue my study and I told my mom about it. My mom really supported my wish. However, when I was in the second year of high school, my mother was sick and went to the hospital many times but she never recovered, even her illness could not be cured. In 2014 my mom, my loved ones left me forever, I was very shocked because someone who supported me to continue my study passed away. I thought my dreams had gone and it was useless to continue study higher because no one supported me anymore. In 2015 I was graduated from high school and I intended to work out of Sumba island because some young people in my area prefer to work out in other island.

Accidentally, I met a friend of mine at Children's Development Center (PPA), she got a college scholarship, then I asked her if she could inform the donor that I also want to get scholarship too. I thought my message was not answered, but when I attended in a PPA meeting, it turned out, the hope that I thought was lost was finally answered. I never imagined to get a donor for college study. My feeling was mixed, one hand I was very happy and wanted to give this news to my family, but on the other hand I knew that my father did not allow me to go to college. This was the beginning of my struggle.

I talked to my dad and it was true, he totally disagreed. He said, “If you go to college, who would give you food, boarding fees, and other costs?” I felt so down, because I seek ways how to study in college and I got it, but my dad did not support me. I locked myself in my room for few days but I prayed and reflected on my mother's struggle to send me to school from elementary school until high school. I said in my heart, "If I just keep quiet and mourn for my fate, I will be nobody and no use. Later, if I get married, I will be only a maid in my husband's house. I don’t want to be, I must be independent." This is my strength to move ahead to college.

I realized that my dad disagreed, so I had left my house before sunrise so that he did not know when I was out, walking down the path to the main road waiting for the bus from Southwest Sumba to Lewa in East Sumba. Finally, I registered as a student in Theology College of Sumba Christian Church in Lewa with a scholarship from PPA and my sister paid my boarding fees. For me, study at college is a struggle because I have to fulfill myself with money available for campus assignments and foods. Besides study, I also take part in campus activities, churches and organizations in order to increase my experiences. In semester five I got a miracle from God when my father said that he would support my study after seeing my determination to study, and now my dad also always goes to church. How God answers my prayers.

Everyone's life journey is not the same, my struggle to study at college is not just to continue my study but the struggle of Sumbanese women to get higher education opportunities for a better life, for themselves, families and the society of Sumba. For women who are struggling, please stay faithful, do not give up, broaden your network and keep on praying, because we do not know the God's answer to our lives and our time is different from God's time. Fight hard and achieve your dreams.