With PNM, Ainun Changes Village Perceptions About Women

Her name is Nuraenun. However, in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, she is better known as Ainun, an Account Officer for PNM Mekaar who spends her days assisting ultra-micro entrepreneurs.

Ainun is the youngest of three siblings. She grew up in an environment with a simple view of a woman’s future. After graduating from high school, many believed the best path was marriage. ‘In my village, people said a high school diploma would only end up at the Religious Affairs Office (KUA),’ she recalled.

Yet Ainun had a different dream. She wanted to work, be independent, and help her family. The opportunity came in early 2023 when she saw a recruitment brochure for PNM Mekaar shared in her school alumni WhatsApp group. Without high expectations, she applied. A few days later, she was called for training.

The journey was not without its challenges. Without her own vehicle, her mother borrowed a neighbour’s motorbike to take her to the training. Along the way, Ainun overheard her mother telling her aunt to look after her because she had chosen to work instead of following the family’s plan for her to get married. At the time, her father was ill and the family’s financial situation was difficult.

That moment became a turning point for Ainun. She realised her step was not just about pursuing a job, but also about carrying her family’s hopes.

Since officially joining PNM on 23 March 2023, Ainun has found more than just employment. PNM became a space for her to grow, learn to face challenges, and realise the dreams she had been fighting for.

Her days are spent accompanying PNM Mekaar customer groups, meeting women entrepreneurs, and witnessing firsthand how the spirit to rise always finds a way. Three years have passed. Now, Ainun is able to contribute to the medical expenses for her father, who undergoes regular chemotherapy.

For her, the greatest achievement is not the income she earns. What makes her happiest is the change in her community’s perspective. A high school diploma, once thought to only lead to the Religious Affairs Office, has become the start of a journey to create and benefit many people.

‘From the customers, I learned that whether it is a little or a lot, we must be grateful for our sustenance because everything is arranged according to its portion,’ Ainun added.