Not many people know the story behind exotic Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta is filled with ancient buildings, which are strong and grand. There are many spots for tourism and unbelievable art and cultural performances. But on the other side, behind the walls, there is an unfortunate story taking place where strong people are fighting stigma and the scorn of the world. They fight the unjust view of those who make a distinction between sex work and legitimate work. Behind the wall you will find us, on the stones and railways, unseen, deserted, and choking on the dust. 

Every night we are by the railway, waiting for men who need sex. When the train passes we move from the tracks. But the railway is our source of life. We live here, we work here, and so do others like the cigarette seller who also earns money here. We work with constant worry. At any moment our homes could be demolished, if the government decides the city needs to be cleaned up.
 

In this city, I earn money for living to help my family financially and to pay my children’s education. Although I have to work in the blackest valley, I thank God for my blessings since I can afford a piece of land in my hometown, I can help my family, and save some earnings for my retirement and my children. I still have dreams that have not been fulfilled. I want to build a house in my village, develop a small shop, and stop working as a sex worker. As time goes by, I have to make my dreams come true for the sake of my family and my children. I have to work hard for those dreams. Amen. Amen.

The train comes and I stand up.  The light shines on me, spotlighting me as a sex worker. I started everything here on May 22, 2014. Sadness and happiness come one after another through the struggle I find within my clients, children, family, and my partner. I want to be a flower, the edelweiss. It never dies in dry season. It does not go dry even if it is picked up. It is me. That is what destiny tells. This is my life and I live it with all my heart and soul. All that happens will not bring me down. I am strong and facing the future. Sometimes, however, tears cannot lie. On the bamboo bench I sit. It is the place I go to take a rest and have fun with my friends. Gone is my weariness, so I continue to work. I serve my clients day by day, twilight passes me by. One day I got pregnant but I was still working and my partner harmed me with physical violence. But I keep going for my daily food and for my children, and one day hopefully my own dream will come true. I just want to be a better person, to stop all the bitterness on the line of the twilight train.

Free range chickens are healthier than chickens raised in captivity. Although free chickens live unprotected and eat from a dirty environment they live well, whereas chickens in captivity are kept alive by support from vitamin and hormone injections. The lives of sex workers are also supported by medicine and socialization of healthy reproduction. I hope I can just live free the free range chickens, but stay healthy and strong.

In their uniform, they can be very charismatic. But when it is taken off, they are just human. In our view, police are like ghosts that haunt our every step when we are working. They act as if they hold full authority, as the righteous. But they are just hypocrites, because in fact they need our sex services or ask from us the “Security Money” to buy cigarettes.

Message:
1. Do not act without compunction toward the sex workers when doing the sweeping.
2. Do come and sit with the sex workers to talk together about the equal rights as this state’s citizens.

More than that, please do not look down on us and see us as trash. Even the trash can be recycled to be a beautiful thing that is highly valued. We do not need your pity, since we are strong. We just need empowerment and protection to show that we are just the same as others.  
 

It is a jack fruit, the fruit I love.
It can be cooked into various foods.
Even the iconic food of Yogyakarta is made of it.
Yes, Gudeg is made of it and so is Lodeh.
When it’s ripe, it can be the filling of fruit soup or Kolak.
Everybody loves jack fruit.
 

My daughter is the fire of my life. She was sent by God and I must take care of her. She is so priceless that I have to protect her. I always pray to God that one day she will become a good woman who is loyal to her parents and family and serves the country.

Although I am a sex worker, I hope she can be proud of her family. When she gets older, I do not want her to know that I was a sex worker. Knowing that I am with God is enough. I hope God answers my prayer for me and for my daughter. Amen. Amen. Amen. 
 

In its open arms is where I am. PKBI is the place for me to share all troubles or joyfulness. For me, PKBI is a priceless place for me to create a work. It’s where I finally know the meaning of my life. From PKBI grows the seed of social organization. It enriches my experiences. It helps me and my friends. PKBI is the bridge to a better future. From it, I learn what an organization is. It’s where we help each other. There was an experience of a friend who was in labor. Rain was pouring down hard and lightning was striking, when a volunteer from PKBI came to help my friend calling a taxi for us to go to the hospital. Our clothes were wet, but had dried by the time we waited for the baby to be born. We accompanied her until she and her baby were fully recovered. Though she has forgotten those days, I will ask for nothing in return. I trust PKBI for its wonderful volunteers and members. They have incredible capacity. PKBI will always be in my heart until the end of time.

This is where I work.
I sell food for a living.
All that I do is for my children, grandchildren, and my sisters.
I love my Angkringan very much.
It is also where my friends gather and meet their clients.
They live around it.
Angkringan is the source of life.
 

The flowers in the picture are beautiful, but they will wilt soon. It is just like me, for I am getting older and wilting. It is my life that can be compared to these beautiful flowers. My wish is that I could have a better life. I do not want to be like these flowers, for they are pleasant to see, but will be thrown away and soon forgotten.

An old lady lives on her own.
She lives in a little shack far away from her relatives.
But she never begs for her daily needs.
With strength, she works all day to earn twenty rupiahs for each piece of cloth she has made.

This woman is working independently by selling food. I want that kind of life, which is better than what I have now. I want to be an independent woman and have my own food shop. This woman is great in struggling for her life.

This is Ngangeran. There is a peak of Ancient volcano which is no longer active.
Now this place has become a tourism spot visited by local and foreign tourists.
Fertile land, beautiful nature, fresh and clean air, we get them all here.
On the east side, there is a very big pond.
Some gazebos are built around it for us to take a rest and enjoy the beauty of nature.
It is my hometown where I was born.
 

The PKBI garden is such a beautiful place.
Joining PKBI has given me so many benefits.
Now I know many things and have sufficient knowledge of IMS (Infectious Sex Disease) and HIV-AIDS.

I pray for the successfulness and the greatness of PKBI.
I wish I can have a baby soon.
And I hope P3SY to be successful and prosperous.
 

Everyone knows that flower is the symbol of beauty. The flower is also the symbol of my community which never wilts and blooms all the time.