MAIA ESTIANTY

Music producer, singer and businesswoman

People power is a force to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to the ardent fans of a star, which explains how Maia Estianty has raised more than RP3.4 billion since the coronavirus first appeared in Indonesia. The fundraising is an ongoing project between the music producer and singer with actress and businesswoman Cathy Sharon, who have a combined total of 16.1 million followers on Instagram. Both of them belong to a group of charitable women called the Tempe Gang.

“Since the virus spreads so quickly and Indonesia has experienced a shortage of supplies for its medical teams, we have to help out not only in Jakarta but also in other provinces where the situation is even more desperate,” Maia says. As of mid-april, funds have been distributed to 168 hospitals in eight provinces to purchase vitamins, supplements, disinfectants, soaps and many other essentials.

Some donations have been given directly to daily wage-earners. A soup kitchen is also being planned to reach more people around Jakarta.

“This pandemic is a hard hit for the small enterprises that make up a large amount of the country’s workforce,” she says. “By staying positive and connected to the consumers, ideas will come from this time of relearning and regrowth to remain afloat today, or to make a fresh start later on.”