Indonesia
Indonesia
Lizzie Chan is the eldest daughter of two vibrant cultures in Indonesia—a Batak mother and a Chinese father—navigating a life path that often baffles her parents. Currently, she works as a full-time teacher and writer, roles that seamlessly blend her passion for education and storytelling, though they remain somewhat mysterious to her family.
Growing up in a blended family that didn’t fit societal norms, she has witnessed firsthand the complexities of identity in a country like Indonesia, where democracy seems to be slipping away. These personal experiences have led her to find solace and expression in poetry.
Lizzie Chan is also the Champion of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2023 Grand Poetry Slam in 2023. She also recently won 1st place at Ubud Women's Poetry Slam 2024. Lizzie Chan founded @jakartapoetryslam and @jakartaimprovclub to create a safe, cozy space for writers and storytellers to share their stories freely, despite the increasing censorship in their country. They aim to encourage experimentation and mistakes, challenging the restrictive norms that often stifle Indonesian writers.
And the most important thing she wants people to know about her - she brews amazing Chinese Tea, her ancestors are practically dancing in glee right now!
