Commemorating National Awakening Day as well as its 25th anniversary, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia (Habitat Indonesia) is finally holding volunteers build again after being suspended for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The volunteer build with the theme “Awake! Together We Build Indonesia” was conducted by painting the houses of low-income families in three regions simultaneously in Indonesia, namely Tangerang, Surabaya and Yogyakarta.

The volunteers build which was held on Saturday (11/6/2022) is part of a series of Build event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Habitat which will be held until December 2022. “Volunteer build is one of the main pillars of Habitat’s humanitarian mission. Before the pandemic hit, volunteers build events were always held annually by inviting and uniting the spirit of volunteers to highlight the importance of proper housing and contribute to its provision,” said Susanto as National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia in a press release.

“Volunteer build which was stopped because of the pandemic, has given a life back to Habitat as we stand here today, and I feel so happy and proud,” he added. He said that the volunteer build activities usually include foundation construction, painting, and walling. This volunteer build is arranged for house painting. In Tangerang alone, there are about 30 houses and 1 school that will be painted with around 150 volunteers.

They come from various walk of life and backgrounds, such as company employees, university students, artists, entrepreneurs. Five public figures also participated in enlivening the house painting activity. They are Hans Chandra (model/artist), Josh Kunze (singer), Matthew Gilbert (model), Okky Alparessi (model), and Nadia Tjoa, Miss Face of Humanity 2022. In Surabaya and Yogyakarta alone, the volunteers build was attended by dozens of volunteers.

The painting in the three areas was carried out to create a beautiful village which is expected to make the environment neater, brighter and able to encourage people to keep their homes clean and not look slum anymore. The hope is, not only to beautify the house, but this painting to become a symbol of standing back up and changes that will make life better in the near future, especially after the pandemic.

Head of Sub-district, Mauk Arif Rahman, was grateful to Habitat, donors, and volunteers for the assistance provided. “For about 10 years, Habitat has been present here in Mauk District and has built around 800-900 housing units. In addition to providing houses, Habitat has also carried out various community empowerment programs such as training to improve the economy by forming MSME groups, providing business capital, and providing a new netizen‘s business sector that has started running in one of our villages in Margamulya Village,” explained Arif.

Arif hopes that the community empowerment program will continue to be carried out for the citizens, especially farmers, fishermen, and other public sectors, be it individually or in groups, to create a more empowered and prosperous Mauk community. “In the near future, together with the government and Habitat, we plan to turn the village into a tourist spot,” he concluded.

Subsequently, Habitat also launched its newest program, namely the construction of Rebricks houses where each brick consists of 30% non-recyclable plastic waste. The launch was marked by the construction of one house using the bricks. Development with an environmentally friendly concept is expected to be able to suppress the climate change crisis that often hits Indonesia as a tropical country.

“We hope that the construction with the concept of building houses made from recycled plastic bricks can be applied in various Habitat projects and in wider areas in Indonesia in the future,” said Susanto.

(Senin, 13 Juni 2022 | 14:16 WIB |Beritasatu.com)

Sharing and donating or any form of gifts given sincerely and voluntarily will give a sense of joy as well as the token of love for others.

There are many benefits of donating, not only for the person who receives it but also for the person who does it. This is a very noble act, but not a few are still hesitant to do it. Donations are gifts made by oneself for the benefit of others without expecting anything in return and without coercion.

There are some people who think that they themselves do not need to give donation because they are not well-off enough thus to make ends meet is a priority. There are some who are stingy and ignorant to their surroundings. However, donating or giving your hands to others can be beneficial for yourself and others. What are the benefits?

1. Benefits for yourself

• Donation is a positive activity. According to various studies, doing positive activities will increase the body’s immune system.

• Helping others will make you happier. Many people do not know that giving help to others will bring happiness to those who receive and give. Have we experienced it?

• Give life satisfaction. There is a German study that people who give more to others, will receive greater life satisfaction than people who do not give.

• Reducing stress levels. Research conducted by Johns Hopkins University and the University of Tennessee in America found that people who regularly distribute free food as a charity activity experience lower stress levels and lower blood pressure compared to those who do not give.

• Benefits for others

• Lift the burden off those who receive assistance.

• Provide motivation and enthusiasm for a better life.

• Helping to improve the immune system of the recipients.

• In a large scale, the community will grow a sense of solidarity and tendency to help one another so that social inequality can be reduced or even eliminated.

To share kindness and donate is very easy to do now because of the emergence of online registration and websites. This is one of the easiest ways to donate for any causes. Habitat for Humanity Indonesia has an easy way to donate regularly, namely by becoming a Habitat Crew. This is a donation via credit card, debit, or bank transfer. Habitat Crew participants will have the opportunity to participate in volunteer activities to build houses in the Habitat service area every year. To register, go to . You can also channel aid to those in need without having to come and face to face by visiting the website: https://dukunghabitat.org/

After understanding the benefits of donations, it would be good if you are touched to donate to those in need. Distribute your donation now by registering and or visit the website above.

Prudential Indonesia continues the Desa Maju program phase II specifically for low-income families. In this program, Prudential builds houses and public facilities in remote areas that are still underdeveloped.

President Director of Prudential Indonesia, Michellina L. Triwardhany (Dhany) said that Prudential Indonesia will build an area in Tanjung Anom Village, Mauk District, Tangerang Regency, Banten Province by collaborating with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia.

In the program, Prudential Indonesia plans to build fifty houses, two clean water access, twenty-five household toilets and gives WASH (Wash, Sanitation, and Hygiene) training. In addition, Prudential Indonesia will also build educational facilities in two schools, including a computer laboratory, school toilets, a library, and an early childhood education (PAUD) building.

“This Desa Maju Prudential program has a direct impact on improving the welfare of the community. We have distributed almost ten billion”, said Michellina in the press conference Friday (June, 10th 2022).

Desa Maju Prudential program started two years ago and collected a total donation of two billion rupiahs through community participation in PRURide Indonesia 2021 Virtual Ride.

Susanto, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia said that this program is expected to improve the quality of life of the local community, which can also increase their income.

“We hope that this initiative can build and improve the lives of low-income families in the area that is in need, through providing the decent houses, clean water access, and proper sanitation”, said Susanto.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia

#SahabatHabitat

It’s beautiful; the fiscal year 2022 has arrived at the end of the year. As national director, I would like to invite all of us to thank God because He is still with us in carrying out Habitat’s mission of providing decent houses for those in need.

This June, we are grateful for two successful programs. The first was Volunteers Build on June 11, held in Tangerang, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta, and the second was on June 25 in East Nusa Tenggara.

I was happy and did not expect that Volunteers Build, which had stopped for two years due to this pandemic, was well received by the community and could bring in more than 200 volunteers. They came from various backgrounds and looked enthusiastic when painting the families’ houses. In Tangerang, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta, we colored more than 50 houses, one school, and thousands of houses in East Nusa Tenggara.

As one of the pillars in carrying out Habitat’s mission, I hope we can do this volunteer build again every year. The activity of building and painting houses is not only beautifying the home but as a symbol to encourage everyone to rise from the downturn of a pandemic or disaster so that everyone has hope for a better and more prosperous future.

Let’s close the 2022 fiscal year with gratitude; see you with even more great programs in the 2023 fiscal year.

Kind regards,

Susanto

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia

#SahabatHabitat

May is a special month because in this month, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia turns 25 years old. I am grateful to God Almighty, Habitat Indonesia still exists to serve the community throughout its journey. I’d like to say Happy birthday to the entire extended family of Habitat Indonesia, starting from the staff, board, donors, volunteers, and all Habitaters wherever they are.

Habitat Indonesia’s birthday celebration this year is filled with various build activities, which are the ‘DNA’ of Habitat for Humanity around the world. It started with the Employees Build event, where all National Office staff, as well as Project Site Offices throughout Greater Jakarta worked hand in hand to paint people’s houses in Bojong Koneng, Sentul-Bogor, on 13 May 2022. Activities with the theme “Awake! Together We Build Indonesia” invites everyone to rise from adversity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, to rebuild Indonesia, to do good for others in need.

I am very impressed with this “Employee Build”. There, me and all the staff went to the field, became volunteers who passionately worked together to beautify and paint people’s houses. We are so happy to be able to do something good for others, after two years of ‘volunteering’ activities like this being restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

I was touched, when it turned out that the house I painted was the house that I also volunteered to build but with the Thunder Bird community back in 2019. The house is still standing strong, only the paint has faded with age. In between the activities, I still had time to chat with the home partner’s children, and I felt so proud to be a part of their life-changing experience.

I hope for the upcoming build activities such as Donors Build, CEO Build, Media Build, and others can be held as a series of activities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Habitat Indonesia, which can involve students, youth, professionals, donors, communities, even the wider community to join in and do good for people in need in order to build a more prosperous Indonesia.

Happy birthday Habitat Indonesia. With the coming years, our spirit grows to light up Indonesia.

Sincerely Yours,

Susanto

National Director

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s 25th Anniversary

#SahabatHabitat,

It is hard to believe that Habitat for Humanity Indonesia is now quarter of a century. Like humans, this age can be said to be quite mature. Habitat has been through a lot in the past 25 years, have its ups and downs.

Grateful for its 25th anniversary, Habitat Indonesia started a series of anniversary activities by holding an Employees Build.

The Habitat Updates team interviewed the chairman of the Employees Build committee, Fajar from the HRGA Department.

According to Fajar, this year’s birthday is more festive than the previous birthday celebrations because it carries the theme “Awake! Together We Build Indonesia”, where all staff of the National Office and Site Office throughout Greater Jakarta were invited directly to the field to do good deeds, painting local people’s houses. “It was boring, right, more than two years since the pandemic we couldn’t do volunteering activities like this, yet, building or volunteering activities are the “DNA” of Habitat for Humanity from all around the world,” said Fajar.

“We create a concept so to build a new spirit in this New Normal era, prioritizing togetherness, create team building for all employees, strengthening the bond between them but also at the same time carrying out activities that are beneficial to the community,” Fajar continued.

Fajar said that the Employees Build was greeted with great enthusiasm by all participants. The spirit to do good to build a more prosperous Indonesia colored the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Habitat Indonesia. All participants happily worked together to bring color to the houses of residents in Bojong Koneng, Sentul – Bogor on 13 May 2022.

“I feel proud to be a part of the Habitat Indonesia extended family and to be the chairman of the Employees Build committee. I hope Habitat Indonesia continues to exist to build a more prosperous Indonesia for future generations. Hopefully all staff will be given a loyal heart to serve wholeheartedly,” concluded Fajar.

To show concern for one another, ElectroluxAttackCare collaborates with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to provide facilities for the community to live clean and healthy lives, by building a water point in Mauk Village, Tangerang. The groundbreaking of the program was carried out on November 18, 2021.

#SahabatHabitat, according to water.org, there are still 18 million people who do not have access to clean water and 20 million people who are unable to have proper sanitation facilities. Tangerang itself is still one of the regions in Indonesia with high stunting cases, due to the inadequate availability of clean water and proper sanitation. This condition has encouraged Habitat Indonesia together with Electrolux and Attack to make social contributions through the construction of water points. It is hoped that this facility can help build public awareness about Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS), Community-Based Total Sanitation (STBM), and GERMAS which was designed by the Indonesian Ministry of Health.

The Head of Kedung Dalem Village, Mauk, Tangerang, Suryadi appreciated the contribution of Habitat, Electrolux and Attack. He said that with the availability of clean water could encourage them to adopt a clean and healthy lifestyle. “With the availability of clean water, of course I am optimistic that public health can improve. If public health improves, the standard and quality of life of the residents of Kedung Dalem Village, Mauk, Tangerang will improve as well”

The National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, Susanto and Andreas Hapsoro, Disaster Response Operations Specialist – Habitat For Humanity International as representatives of Habitat for Humanity International were present in Bali, Nusa Dua Convention Center, Badung 23-28 May 2022. The GPDRR (Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction) 7th opening ceremony was attended by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). This year’s discussion focuses on mitigating world disasters due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the meeting that discussed world disaster mitigation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Habitat Indonesia, which has always contributed to disaster management in Indonesia, had the opportunity to present Habitat for Humanity’s commitment to contribute to achieving the goals of the 2015-2030 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Commitment to take the following actions to support the implementation of the Sendai Framework through shelter and housing programs and advocacy as follows:

1. Address disaster risk reduction in all shelter, housing and settlement programs with an emphasis on the causal and underlying factors of disasters by promoting interventions that address exposure to hazards, reduce vulnerability of people and property, facilitate land cultivation and environmental management. Environment, preparedness for adverse events and promote adaptation to climate change.

2. Work closely with civil society organizations and local governments to build safer and more resilient communities, promote a culture of preparedness and an understanding that secure land tenure, affordable and resilient housing, clean water and sanitation are critical components of promoting disaster risk reduction.

3. Increase the internal capacity of local Habitat for Humanity-affiliated entities and partners to promote inclusion and serve vulnerable populations, with a strong emphasis on urban areas given exponential growth and high risk exposure.

4. Support disaster risk reduction and resilience building as national and local priorities, contribute to strong governance and participation of vulnerable populations in decision-making processes by promoting awareness of safe housing and settlements, strengthening local leadership and promoting gender balance.

The event was attended by representatives from more than 185 countries. This Global Platform is expected to encourage more cooperation in disaster risk reduction, and global commitment to sustainable resilience from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, in accordance with the 2015-2030 Sendai Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.

Jakarta, May 25, 2022 – Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, a non-profit organization that focuses on providing the decent house to the low-income family, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) symbolically handed over a joint project on development improvement programs in Karawang to the regency governments in a ceremony in Karawang.  

The program took one-year ­– from March 2021 to March 2022 – to be completed. Habitat collaborated with AWS to carry out village development programs in Karawang, including: 

• Construction of one community center and distribution of six packages of supporting facilities to local youth groups.
• Construction of three public toilets, seven school toilets, 36 handwashing facilities, three units of clean water facilities, and the distribution of 1,054 hygiene kit packages and nine units of oxygen concentrators to public health services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Providing leadership training to young people and vocational training in sewing and cooking for women.
• Waste management training for young people through the construction of five waste management projects and the construction of one waste handling facility.

More than 15,000 people benefitted from the program, which was carried out in eight villages. The six villages are located in Kutamekar, Kutapohaci, Mulyasari, Margakarya, Margamulya, and Wanakerta.  

Susanto, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, said, “We are very proud to partner with AWS to implement their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. This is our third collaboration with AWS. We have previously collaborated on a disaster relief program in Palu and on distributing necessities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Habitat Indonesia always strives to uphold its professionalism and integrity so that every partner enjoys collaborating with us so that we can assist more low-income families,” said Susanto.

Susanto said, “Habitat always puts the aspirations, needs, potentials, and capabilities of the local community first, so that the community programs can be carried out effectively, efficiently, and sustainably” We always involve the community. It can change their mindset and help them understand that aid does not always mean money but also physical and non-physical programs which are more useful in the long term. I also believe that community involvement fosters a sense of ownership so that the community is more concerned about maintaining any given program,” He explained.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia continues to create a prosperous and sustainable life for Indonesia’s low-income families. Habitat’s programs support the government’s efforts in achieving four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), which include improving the quality of education, more access to clean water and sanitation, economic growth and work opportunities, and improving sustainable communities and cities.

Siti Arfina, who attended the vocational sewing training, said,” “I am very happy with this sewing training. I heard that some German companies here wanted to recruit people who are good at sewing. I have a set of marketable skills to offer by attending the sewing training. Even if I am not accepted at any of these companies, I have the skill to rely on. I can open my own sewing business at home, which is good enough to provide the family with the income”

The collaboration between Habitat for Humanity Indonesia and AWS aims to spark significant changes in the near future to help low-income families lead better lives.

On Saturday, 23^rd of April 2022, representatives of Habitat Indonesia together with twelve Standard Chartered employees, went for a field visit to Cimandala village, Karang Tengah Village, Bogor Regency. The visit aimed to paint several stalls owned by local residents and provide financial management training.

Twelve Standard Chartered employees were divided into two groups. Nine people painted houses while the remaining three gave financial management training. There were about twenty shop owners who participated in the activity.

A small incident occurred when the car carrying Habitat Indonesia and Standart Chartered team emitted smoke because it was forced to climb a steep road, however, that episode did not dampen the team’s enthusiasm to keep doing build activities.

This build activity is Habitat Indonesia’s first volunteer activity after being suspended for two years since the pandemic. The build activities, of course, carried out with strict health protocols.