EN-ID Blog
On that morning, Aradia greeted the day with a different kind of enthusiasm than usual. He, along with his classmates, left the comfort of their classroom and exchanged it for an open space filled with dust and construction equipment. They had purposely woken up early to join a volunteer activity to build decent homes in Kampung Cinamprak, Mauk Barat Village, Tangerang, on October 29.
While lifting the hoe, Aradia appeared slightly unsure of his movements. Seeing Aradia’s unsure movements, Risman, the Construction Supervisor from Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, immediately approached and offered guidance, demonstrating the proper way to hold and use a hoe.
Together with his group, Aradia dug foundation holes to a depth of 60 centimeters, while another group was busy tying the iron rebar for the sloof, which would serve as the foundation of the building structure.
Despite the grueling work, the volunteers’ spirits remained undeterred. “This is my first experience. It’s exhausting, but we know that what we’re doing will make a big difference for the families who will live in these homes,” said Aradia, taking a break between the volunteer activities.
To celebrate their 17th anniversary, Sinarmas World Academy (SWA) partnered with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to invite the students, parents, and teachers from the school to share happiness in a special way.
Under the campaign titled “Build a Brighter Tomorrow,” 38 SWA volunteers took part in building three decent homes for families in Kampung Cinamprak. This activity marks the beginning of a target to build 10 decent homes, which are planned to be completed by the end of the year.
For the families of Kampung Cinamprak, owning a decent home has long been an elusive dream. Most of them work as casual farm laborers or fishermen, with income only sufficient to meet their daily needs. Their dream homes often remain distant aspirations, difficult to achieve. But that day, their dreams turned into reality.
Evelyn Indriani Kristiali, Head of Marketing and Operations at SWA, said, “We are very proud to be able to collaborate with Habitat on our anniversary. Through this experience, we hope all SWA students will grow with greater empathy and a passion for bringing positive change to the community around them.”
Support also came from the Head of Mauk Barat Village, Samudi, who appreciated this effort. “On behalf of the residents, I would like to thank SWA and Habitat for their help in our village. This is the first time decent homes are being built in Mauk Barat. I hope this initiative will inspire others to contribute to similar efforts,” he expressed.
Throughout the day, laughter and smiles from the SWA volunteers and the residents of Kampung Cinamprak filled every step of the construction process. The students, who were accustomed to classroom activities, now enjoyed a new experience working together with the local community. While working, they exchanged stories, learning more about the daily lives of the families there. This activity not only strengthened a sense of togetherness but also provided valuable lessons about the spirit of cooperation in a simple environment.
Habitat for Humanity Indonesia invites all youth communities, schools, and educational institutions to continue working towards a brighter future through the decent home program. These small moments worked on together create significant changes, fulfilling hopes, and paving the way for a better life for communities across Indonesia.
(kh/av)
