My name is Yuniarti Yuskar. I embarked on my doctoral journey in March 2021 at FGSE – UNIL and residing in Crissier, Vaud, with my husband who is also PhD student and two daughters; Tuffahati Syifa Giuni (14 years old) and Hafsah Thufailah Giuni (12 years old).
Despite the initial challenges of balancing family responsibilities and I did not have any scholarship for the first two years of my PhD, my perseverance was supported by family encouragement. In my third year, I secured a position as assistant diplome at UNIL, providing crucial financial support for the remainder of my PhD.
My husband and I needed to conduct fieldwork in Indonesia that presented logistical complexities regarding childcare in Switzerland, requiring our children to accompany us. Upon my supervisor’s advice, I sought assistance from the Equality Office – UNIL, an entity previously unknown to us. I gratefully acknowledge their understanding of our situation and their financial support, which enabled our children to join us during fieldwork in Indonesia in both 2021 and 2022. Further funding in 2023 allowed our children to participate in our professional activities by joining us at the LED conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the INQUA conference in Rome, Italy.
The support from the Equality Office – UNIL extended beyond financial aid, positively impacting our daughters through programs like « JOM 2023 – A Day in the Life of a Geoscientist: Drones, Rocks, and Pollution (Girls Only). » Additionally, I engaged in several of the Equality Office – UNIL’s initiatives aimed at fostering the advancement of women in science.
The resources provided by the Equality Office – UNIL has been invaluable in navigating the intersection of my professional and family life. This support extends beyond my identity as a woman with children to also acknowledge and accommodate my religious background as a Muslim in a non-Muslim country. The inclusive environment fostered by the Equality Office ensures a sense of security and equal opportunity in pursuing my professional endeavors, irrespective of my background.
