CHORUS OF LIGHT- The Challenges of an elderly transwoman faced within poverty and health access in Yogyakarta

As a vulnerable community, the elderly transwoman tends to have bigger challenges when dealing with financial and health issues. There are 31 pre-elderly transwomen and about 26 elderly transwomen in Yogyakarta altogether. Though many of them must reside at home or in shelters due to health problems such as stroke, heart disease, lung issues, complications from HIV infection, and some of them are still working in the non-formal sector. Given that the majority of the individuals has experienced a structural cycle of poverty, the situation is becoming worse. As a way of supporting communities in addressing health issues, the WCC (Waria Crisis Center) shelter was established as a safe space for elderly transwomen to get housing and care without worrying the costs. Through this visual story, I observe how Rully and other transwomen at the Kebaya Foundation and WCC are fighting for their civil and human rights. I hope that this project is able to open up the idea that the community have been transforming the greatest pain from experiences and lives into power through their stories and empowerment. Their gentleness and bravery are the result of understanding what it means to live that