Blind Susanti navigates city's tests with tenacity<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Where there's a will, there's a way. That is the
\nadage Susanti lives by as she braves the hard times which have
\nhit the nation's capital.<\/p>\n
Instead of depending on others, Susanti, who is blind, has
\nmanaged to remain self-reliant by selling popsicles. She was
\nhelped into her line of work by guidance she received at Rawinala
\nschool for the handicapped in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Susanti's eyesight was bad from an early age. She was
\nnearsighted in her infancy, but is now totally blind.<\/p>\n
However, she does not let her handicap prevent her from
\ngetting on in life and is becoming an accomplished small-scale
\nbusinesswoman.<\/p>\n
Susanti, who is now 22, would have remained dependent on
\nothers for the rest of her life had her parents not searched
\ncontinuously for a school which could cater to her specific needs
\nafter she finished kindergarten at the age of eight.<\/p>\n
The education she received at Rawinala school has given her
\nthe practical knowledge that she needs to fend for herself.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know what kind of life I would have had if my
\nteachers and friends had not taught me so patiently,\" she told
\nThe Jakarta Post during a Christmas celebration at her school.<\/p>\n
She said that a teacher taught her how to make popsicles in
\n1996 and then urged her to start her own business.<\/p>\n
Susanti is now an expert in producing popsicles in a variety
\nof flavors, including orange, mango and mung bean, however she
\nhas concentrated on making sweet tea flavor since the economic
\ncrisis began. That, she explained, was the most affordable for
\nher customers.<\/p>\n
\"I can sell sweet tea popsicles for less because the
\ningredients are cheaper. If I make something expensive people
\nwon't buy it,\" Susanti said enthusiastically.<\/p>\n
She produces around 100 sweet tea popsicles every day and
\nsells them for Rp 150 each to five ice vendors who live near the
\nschool building.<\/p>\n
\"I am proud that I am able to search for customers by myself.
\nSee, I can do things even though I am blind,\" said the thin girl.<\/p>\n
Susanti sometimes supplies sweet tea popsicles to members of
\nthe Armed Forces stationed at Halim Perdanakusumah in East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I don't care that people sometimes mock me or make derogatory
\ncomments when I am out on business,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Susanti said she earns about Rp 60,000 (US$8) a month, a small
\nincome with which she is unlikely to be able to meet her own
\nneeds.<\/p>\n
\"Everything depends on us. If we feel that Rp 60,000 is enough
\nit will be enough,\" she said, adding that she was lucky because
\nthe school provides her with free meals.<\/p>\n
Susanti is the second of three children. Her parents are both
\nvegetable sellers in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
She said that two of her blind friends also ran businesses out
\nof a 20-square-meter workshop provided by the school.<\/p>\n
Veronica, 20, and Suroso, 21, run salted egg and chicken egg
\nbusinesses respectively.<\/p>\n
\"I am happy that my friends can also be successful,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Susanti had no big dreams, saying only that she wants to be
\nable to buy another freezer to help her to expand.<\/p>\n
\"I want to sell ice cubes because people here find it
\ndifficult to get a hold of any. But one freezer is not big enough
\nfor that.\" (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/blind-susanti-navigates-citys-tests-with-tenacity-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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