The Story of Grandmother Mas Amah Who Continues to Struggle for Her Grandchild's Future

At the age of 78, Mas Amah remains devoted to tending her small shop in the corner of her home. With hands that are beginning to falter, she arranges the snacks neatly hung on the wall, serves customers, and ensures the kitchen keeps steaming. For Mas Amah, these activities are not merely routine but a way to survive for the sake of her grandson, Rendi Pratama. Since Rendi was five years old, their lives have changed. Rendi’s parents passed away, leaving him in his grandmother’s care. From that moment, Mas Amah became his sole source of support, replacing the role of his parents while also being the family’s breadwinner. Now, Rendi is in the third year of junior high school. Every day, he goes to school with the same hope: a better future. Behind that is the figure of Mas Amah, who never stops struggling. In her small shop, she not only sells snacks but also basic necessities like rice and eggs, simply arranged on wooden shelves, serving as their daily livelihood. These efforts now receive support through social rehabilitation services for the elderly from Sentra Wyata Guna Bandung, a unit under the Ministry of Social Affairs. Through entrepreneurial assistance, Mas Amah has gained business strengthening to remain productive and independent in her twilight years. Social rehabilitation for the elderly does not only focus on meeting basic needs but also on enhancing social functioning so that the elderly remain empowered, have a role in the family, and are not marginalised. In Mas Amah’s daily life, this is reflected in her ability to maintain her small business while caring for her grandson. “Alhamdulillah, with this assistance, I can start my business again. Hopefully, it’s enough for my needs and my grandson’s,” said Mas Amah in her statement on Monday (23/3/2026). Behind her slowing steps, Mas Amah continues to prove that age is not a limit to remaining meaningful. From her small shop, she keeps hope alive for herself and for her grandson’s future.