Women are a potential resource if they get the opportunity to move forward and improve their quality independently, becoming the driving force of life and nation-building. However, the facts still show the high levels of violence against women, development gaps between women and men, and limited access for some women to get higher education. Culturally, women are still shackled by patriarchal culture, women in the domestic sector, and men in the public sector. Regarding the village women’s participation in leadership, it is still low, especially in Tanatuku village, Nggaha Ori Angu district. In this case, the Multiplication of Stube HEMAT in Sumba provides a place and space for village young women to voice.

Discussions and sharing of experiences about the progress of activist women become a driving model for them to move forward. Together with Ince Riani Anika Salean, a young female activist who has been active in her area, Lewa Tidahu, East Sumba, by mobilizing village women in various fields, establishing a women's organization, and a literacy house in her village. The women's group of the Multiplication of Stube HEMAT gathered for a discussion (Friday, 24/02/2023). The speaker started the discussion by bringing up RA Kartini, a figure fighting for women's rights to study at school and leading organizations so that women have democratic character and a sense of care, and proving that women are also competent to be organizational leaders.

Ira Padu Lemba, a student of Nursing Academy asked, "What qualifications must a woman have if she wants to become an influential female figure and a leader?" "To become a leader not only requires talent, but also skills and expertise that are trained from a young age, and this is the benefit for us to be involved in every organization," said the speaker. “Leaders must be visionary, participative, characterized, spiritually, emotionally, socially and intellectually intelligent as well as having a competitive passion. So, what should be done as a female leader? Women must be able to build positive personal branding or self-image, both as individuals, mothers, husband partners, leaders, and community servants. Women must understand self-concept, namely awareness, attitude, and understanding about who we are, what our goals, what our weaknesses, strengths, abilities, strengths are, etc. Women leaders must also be confident, have strong convictions about their actions, and be able to express their feelings and opinions without hurting their feelings or others’ feelings, without disturbing the rights of others," she said.

The resource person retold her experience when she mobilized young women in the village and formed women's organizations. She also emphasized why women must appear and take part in making policies because women's participation is expected to prevent unfavorable conditions for women in dealing with stereotyped issues against women such as discrimination in the field of law, social life, and also exploitation of women. She also revealed that she had handled a case of ‘forced marriage’  through the legal process and finally, the woman regained the rights to be free and live happily.

At the end, women must continue to show their existence and need to be empowered because their voice determines the direction of development in the place where they act. From now on, women must show that they can be leaders, not dreamers. ***