Stories of Change
There is a joy that cannot be hidden on the face of Imas Laelasari (52). That smile comes from the presence of a simple yet decent home that brings a sense of security, peace, and a glimmer of new hope for her and her three children. In Gunung Putri, Bogor Regency, the house with red and gray walls now stands sturdy, replacing the old fragile building filled with anxiety.
Since 2015, Imas had lived in a house far from decent. The structure, lacking strength, caused cracks in the walls. The roof leaked, the tiled floor was broken, and every night she had to pray that the house would not collapse on her small family. “One night, I was watching TV with my eldest child when suddenly the roof tiles fell. I panicked. I was afraid it could collapse on me and the children at any moment,” Imas recalled.
She had long prayed that her home could become safe again. She still remembered the words of her late husband before he passed away eight years ago: “Don’t ever sell this house, Mah, so our children can live in it later.” That message remained deeply rooted, so even as the house deteriorated, she stayed. However, repairing the house was not easy. For daily needs, Imas could only rely on her children’s often unpredictable income.
“If this house collapsed, I truly wouldn’t know where to live. So all I could do was pray that there would be a way,” she said quietly.
Read also: A Decent Home Transforms the Future of the Iqballudin Family
The answer finally came. Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, in collaboration with Prudential Indonesia through the Desa Maju Prudential Program, rebuilt Imas’s home. The walls now stand strong, the roof is solid, the floors are neat, and the interior is far more comfortable. The toilet, which once terrified her because of snakes, is now clean and safe to use.
“Alhamdulillah, I am very happy and deeply grateful to everyone who helped my family. Everything has changed so much. I no longer fear or worry that the house will collapse,” Imas said with relief.
More than just a building, this home provides Imas with a sense of safety. She no longer fears that the walls will crumble, worries about intruders, or feels anxious during heavy rains.
The house also sparks new energy. Soon after it was completed, Imas sought capital to start selling snacks in front of her house. She wants to use this new space as a starting point for a small business, gradually moving toward independence.
“This house is my treasure. If my husband were still here, he would surely be happy to see it,” she said, holding back tears.
The transformation experienced by Imas aligns with the broader goals of the third phase of the Desa Maju Prudential Program, which began in November 2024. The program not only builds houses like Imas’s but also has a wide-ranging impact on the community. It has constructed 27 new decent homes, 21 new household toilets, renovated 4 educational and public facilities, provided machines to turn waste into plastic pellets, conducted waste management training for 210 participants, trained 75 waste management officers, and offered education on basic healthy housing construction, clean and healthy living habits, and disaster mitigation for the community.
For some, a house may only be seen as a place to shelter. But for Imas, this new home is a symbol of a new life. From this house, she has regained spirit, hope, and courage to move forward with her children.
Writter: Kevin Herbian
(kh/av)
