For years, Nining has lived between exhaustion, worry, and hope that never truly faded. In a fragile house that was nearly collapsing, she cared for her parents who suffered from stroke while trying to survive despite all of life’s limitations.

Garut, June 9, 2026 – Nining (46), a female head of household from Cikajang, Garut Regency, spends most of her days caring for her sick parents. Her father can still walk slowly with the help of a cane, while her mother remains bedridden. At the same time, Nining is also raising her youngest child, who is currently in junior high school.

To meet their daily needs, Nining relies on financial support from her two older children, who are already married and working. The money they send each month must be divided between household expenses and medication for her parents. In fact, she often has to buy food on credit from a neighbor’s small shop just to survive. “Whether it’s enough or not, I just have to make it work,” Nining said softly.

Amid financial hardship, the condition of the house they lived in only made life even more difficult. The house was built from bamboo walls and wooden boards, with a roof made of worn-out roof tiles. Whenever it rained, water leaked into the house from every direction, creating chaos inside.

“My biggest struggle is financial. I only depend on the money my children give me once a month. That money has to cover daily needs and my parents’ medical care. On top of that, we have to live in an uninhabitable house like this. My mind is always overwhelmed,” Nining explained.

To earn additional income, Nining occasionally works as a farm laborer in her neighbor’s fields, earning no more than Rp30,000 per day. Yet even while working, her mind is never truly at peace. “When I’m working in the fields, I’m always thinking about my parents at home because the house is no longer safe to live in,” she said.

Caring for her parents in such a fragile house became a challenge of its own. Whenever heavy rain poured and water started entering the house, Nining had to move her parents to the driest corners of the house to protect them from the leaks.

“One time during heavy rain, the back part of the house collapsed. I panicked and called the neighbors for help because I was afraid it would hit my parents. Thankfully, they weren’t injured because we managed to move them in time,” she recalled.

After the incident, Nining could only afford temporary repairs. She used wooden supports to hold up the structure and covered damaged sections with banners so the house could still be occupied.

Behind all of these struggles, there was one regret that continued to weigh heavily on Nining’s heart. She believes her mother’s condition worsened after falling in their bathroom, which still had dirt flooring and was slippery.

Before meeting Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, Nining had even considered working abroad as a migrant worker. For her, it seemed like the only way to repair the house and afford medical treatment for her parents.

Read also: The Struggle of a Mother Head of Household to Achieve a Decent Home

The hope that once felt so distant finally arrived. With support from Astra, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia rebuilt Nining’s home into a decent and livable house, alongside homes for 84 other families in Garut Regency.

Today, Nining’s house stands strong with bright yellow walls. Not only is it safer and more comfortable, but it was also specially designed to support the needs of elderly people and persons with disabilities. The house is equipped with handrails in the living room and bathroom, as well as wider doorways to make mobility easier for her parents.

In addition, the house is furnished with various household items such as a living room table and chairs, a wardrobe, and beds, making it far more comfortable and suitable for living.

For Nining, this house is the answer to prayers she had been saying for more than seven years. She admitted that she had previously received several promises of assistance, but none had ever materialized until the support finally came through Habitat Indonesia and Astra.

“My house has changed so much. The most important thing is that it never leaks anymore. The house is also much nicer and more pleasant to look at. I no longer feel insecure or embarrassed around my neighbors,” Nining said with tears in her eyes.

Having a decent home has also brought new peace into her life. Now, Nining no longer feels overwhelming fear every time she has to leave home to earn additional income. Her home is now equipped with handrails, allowing her elderly father to walk around the house with steady support.

“Because this house is now truly livable, I’m no longer afraid or worried about leaving my parents alone for a while when I go out to work as a farm laborer,” she said.

This house has become a symbol of a daughter’s struggle and devotion to her parents. Despite all the hardships, Nining never stopped trying to provide a safe and decent home where her parents could spend their old age with greater comfort and dignity.

Nining’s story is a reminder that a decent home is not just about walls and a roof, but about safety, peace of mind, and renewed hope for families who have long lived in hardship.

There are still many families like Nining’s who are waiting for the opportunity to have a decent home. Let us be part of the change and help more families build a better life.

Writer: Kevin Herbian

(kh/av)

Gunungkidul, June 5, 2026 – As part of its commitment to building more resilient and inclusive communities, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, together with its local partner Sentra Advokasi Perempuan, Disabilitas, dan Anak (SAPDA), continues to strengthen community participation in village development through an approach centered on equality and social inclusion.

Through the Advancing Climate Resilient Communities through Empowering Sustainable Solutions (ACCESS) program, Habitat Indonesia supported the implementation of the Sinau Bareng Warga: Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Mainstreaming activity, held at the Katongan Village Hall, Nglipar District, Gunungkidul Regency, on April 30, 2026. The activity served as a shared learning space for community members to better understand the importance of inclusive development, where every voice—especially women, persons with disabilities, older persons, youth, and other vulnerable groups—has an equal opportunity to be heard.

A total of 15 community representatives from Kepuhsari and Ngrandu hamlets actively participated in discussions facilitated by SAPDA. In an open and participatory atmosphere, participants were encouraged to identify challenges, map available resources, and formulate development ideas that are more responsive to the needs of all members of the community.

Nuryadin Edy Purnama, Project Officer at SAPDA, emphasized the importance of this process as an initial step toward building a more inclusive village. “The purpose of the Sinau Bareng Warga: GEDSI Mainstreaming activity is for us to collectively identify, understand, and comprehensively examine the various challenges and resources within this village, which can later become our foundation for collaborating with the village,” he explained.

Support for this participatory approach was also expressed by the Katongan village government. Wawan, Kamituo representing the Head of Katongan Village, stated that village development must be a collective effort involving all residents without exception. “Everyone has equal rights as community members and can also participate in planning the direction and goals of development, especially here in Katongan Village. Hopefully, our focus will be on how much we can contribute, rather than how much we can gain. If that becomes our shared intention, we will be able to achieve this common goal for shared prosperity,” he said.

A similar perspective was shared by Wasingastu Zakiyah, one of the speakers at the event, who emphasized that inclusive development must ensure that no group is left behind. “Inclusive development processes should involve everyone. No one should be excluded, especially those who have long been marginalized, so they can be equally facilitated in both village planning and development,” she explained.

Through its collaboration with SAPDA under the ACCESS Program, Habitat Indonesia believes that building resilient communities does not only begin with providing access to basic services, but also by creating safe, equal, and inclusive spaces for dialogue. Because when everyone has the same opportunity to participate, development can truly belong to all.

Writer: SAPDA

(kh/av)