Elderly Surakarta Woman Raises Adopted Child Through Flower Sales and Grave Cleaning

In a modest home in Pucangsawit Village, Surakarta City, Central Java, 73-year-old Mak Painah heads to the cemetery. Through selling flowers and cleaning graves, Painah has raised Aditya Herlambang.

Since her husband’s passing, Mak Painah has lived alone with her adopted child, Aditya, whom she has cared for since infancy.

Her income is irregular. Sometimes it barely covers that day’s meals; other times, it falls below Rp10,000. Each morning, she collects fallen frangipani flowers and cleans graves visited by mourners. A seemingly simple job, yet it sustains her life.

But it is through this work that she raised Aditya. Initially, he was left in her care temporarily, but his biological parents never returned, so Mak Painah has since taken full responsibility for his needs.

‘I consider him my own child,’ Mak Painah stated in a written statement from the Ministry of Social Affairs on 28 May 2026.

Aditya grew up in modest circumstances. Despite limited means, he attended school and had his other needs met.

When Aditya finished junior high school, Mak Painah was at a loss. She did not know how to afford his secondary education.

‘I was truly afraid he would have to stop schooling due to financial constraints,’ she said.

Then came reassuring news: Aditya was accepted at SRMA 17 Surakarta, a state secondary school.

‘Alhamdulillah, I was overjoyed—tears of relief when he could attend school for free,’ she added.

For Mak Painah, Aditya is more than an adopted child. His presence is her reason to persevere in her later years.

Mak Painah acknowledges significant government support. She receives assistance through the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Family Hope Programme (PKH) and, in 2025, became eligible for food aid and Orphan Assistance (YAPI), which aid her daily needs.

‘I hope to see Aditya grow up, complete his education, and lead a better life than mine,’ Mak Painah concluded.