Habitat for Humanity Indonesia and Prudential Indonesia jointly organized the inauguration ceremony of Desa Maju Prudential Bogor on August 19, 2023. The event was held in Gunung Putri Village, a sub-village of Gunung Putri, Bogor. This program marked the expansion of the initial phase of Desa Maju Prudential, which was previously established in Mauk, Tangerang.

Rudi Nadapdap, the Senior Operations Manager of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, and Michellina Laksmi Triwardhany, the President Director of PT. Prudential Life Assurance, with Prudential Indonesia’s management team and local government officials, including Didin, the Head of Gunung Putri District, and Daman Huri, the Head of Gunung Putri Village, were present at the event. They were joined by over 150 volunteers who were part of Prudential Indonesia’s staff and agents, making the event vibrant and filled with enthusiasm.

Numerous activities took place that day, starting with the groundbreaking ceremony, followed by house construction activities, health check-ups, children’s financial literacy training and disaster mitigation training.

Over the course of one year, the Desa Maju Prudential program aims to complete the construction of 15 new houses, renovate 10 existing houses, build 38 individual toilets, establish 2 Integrated Healthcare Centers, and create 10 business centers for the residents of Gunung Putri Village.

In addition to the health facilities and infrastructure establishment, the Desa Maju Prudential Bogor Program will enhance the residents’ capacity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing Hygiene training to 400 individuals, entrepreneurship training to 50 participants, and vocational training to a group of 10 chosen individuals.

In every program organized by Habitat for Humanity Indonesia and Prudential Indonesia, we aim for the people of Gunung Putri Village to lead peaceful, safe, independent lives, blessed with a bright future.

On Wednesday, August 30th, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia organized an event titled Indonesia Housing Forum 2023. The event was carried on as the remembrance of the National Housing Day on August 25th, 2023, where everyone who is a part of the Housing Sector in Indonesia joined in a discussion to seek a continuous and affordable solution to decent housing. Indonesia Housing Forum 2023 was a Hybrid Seminar, where the offline location took place in the medical school hall of Indonesia University.

The event, centered around the theme of “Building inclusive, continuous, and affordable housing for all,” was the outcome of a collaboration involving several stakeholders. These included government representatives, such as the General Director of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing of the Republic of Indonesia, academic institutions like the Civil Engineering Department of Indonesia University, as well as organizations like Real Estate Indonesia and various private housing sectors.

During the event, Ms. Dana Kusumastuti, the General Director of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing of the Republic of Indonesia, served as the keynote speaker and shared valuable insights. She emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts from various stakeholders to improve access to decent housing for all segments of society, tailored to their specific needs and capabilities. Ms. Dana Kusumastuti stated, ”Through this event, we have gained the awareness necessary to implement the right solutions for housing-related challenges and promote decent housing ownership.

Within each session, the speakers delivered all the presentations expertly to discuss various modern issues and solutions to the national or global housing sector, such as the regulation for housing access, collaboration between multi-parties for affordable housing, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and housing payment diversification. Habitat Indonesia awarded a plaque and certificate to the speakers as an appreciation for their participation in this event.

Mr. Susanto, the national director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, hoped that there would be various innovative ideas birthed to be the solution to housing issues in Indonesia through the movement, “Our hope, at least we could lessen the housing issues in Indonesia by 30% through Indonesia Housing Forum and the development of decent housing could improve significantly.” He said.

On Saturday, July 29th, 2023, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia hosted the “Habitat Charity Golf Build 2023” event in Marga Mulya Village, Mauk, Tangerang. This event served as a follow-up to the Habitat Charity Golf 2023, providing corporations that had previously donated to HCGT 2023 with the opportunity to witness the direct impact of their assistance.

Nineteen volunteers enthusiastically participated in various building activities, including bending metal and digging foundations. Many of the volunteers shared that it was their first experience volunteering with Habitat Indonesia. Thus, the day’s event was indeed memorable.

The Build concluded with the announcement of the Volunteer of the Day award, which was presented to three individuals from various organizations who served as inspirations to their fellow volunteers. These exceptional volunteers were Mr. Iskandar from Panin Dai-Ichi, Ms. Almira from Saratoga, and Mr. Yuda from Tower Bersama Group.

Through Habitat Golf Build 2023, Habitat Indonesia hopes that more companies or individuals will support Habitat’s mission of building the welfare of families across Indonesia through decent housing assistance!

Bisnis Indonesia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards (BISRA) Event 2023 took place at the Aryaduta Hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023. This event serves as a tribute to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), representing a tangible effort to continually enhance our social environment and support our people.

During the event, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia partnered with Bisnis Indonesia to host the BISRA 2023 Awards for the third time since 2021. Their role was to provide information and introduce their organization to participants from various organizations who would be receiving awards. To accomplish this, Habitat Indonesia set up a booth and distributed organization profile books to the invitees. The hope is that this event will pave the way for future opportunities with the organizations that receive awards, helping them measure and improve their Social Return On Investment (SROI).

BISRA 2023 saw the participation of 72 participants who presented 120 CSR programs, and 32 organizations were selected as the best in their respective CSR categories through an objective judging process conducted by a professional board of judges with in-depth knowledge of CSR. The chosen theme for the event was “CSR Toward Climate Change Mitigation,” selected to raise awareness about the risks associated with climate change.

Let’s support Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to build more decent houses for low-income families through the Habitat Crew Program by registering at:   https://form.jotform.com/80521506673454

You can also support our missions by buying our merchandise here: https://oldweb.habitatindonesia.org/storage/2023/04/Habitat%20Merchendise%202.pdf

On Saturday, July 8th, 2023, Pt. Lautan Luas Tbk organized a Kampung Lautan Luas Build event in Margamulya Village, Mauk, Tangerang. The event brought together various staff members of Pt. Lautan Luas Tbk. to directly and positively impact the lives of the Kampung Lautan Luas Program’s Home-partners.

The event commenced with an opening speech delivered by Mr. Safei, the welfare section chief of Margamulya Village. He expressed his gratitude and shared great enthusiasm for the volunteers who participated in the well-being improvement of the village’s residents.

Approximately 37 volunteers joined hands during the painting activities of 13 houses and 2 waterpoints, which were built under the Kampung Lautan Luas Program in the past. The event aimed to enhance the appearance of the houses and public facilities belonging to the residents while also tightening the bond among Pt. Lautan Luas Tbk.’s employees.

Mr. Erlangga, one of the volunteers, shared his first-time experience with the Habitat Indonesia team, saying, “The event allowed me to interact with the residents here and have fun with my colleagues.”

As the event neared its end, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s team awarded 9 of the most memorable participants in the event with the title of ‘Volunteer of The Day’. Among them was Ms. Eurike Hadijaya, the Investor Relations & Corporate Communication Manager of Pt. Lautan Luas Tbk., who had also attended the previous Kampung Lautan Luas Build in April.

“It was exciting, and there is so much goodness that comes with the event,” expressed Ms. Erni Astuti, one of the volunteers who also won the ‘Volunteer of The Day’ title.

Hopefully, the spirit of cooperation shared by the volunteers will inspire many others to ignite collaborative efforts in building a better community and environment, thus, creating a broader impact on society.

A home is more than its physical structure; it is also a place where everyone can safely and peacefully lead a healthy life. Thus, a home is a symbol of joy. Other than that, a safe and healthy house could improve the welfare of those who live within. With adequate qualities, a home can help its resident to lead a productive life and improve the family’s economic condition.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia actively supports the government’s Extreme Poverty Elimination Program, aiming to enhance the quality of life for low-income communities. The rising number of areas facing extreme poverty can be attributed to several factors, with the pandemic being a significant contributor, leading to job losses over the past two years. In response to these challenges, collaborative efforts among various individuals are crucial to support Habitat’s mission in the areas we serve, including Mauk Regency – Tangerang, Babakan Madang Regency – Bogor, Wringinanom Gresik Regency – East Java, and Kulonprogo Regency – Yogyakarta.

Collaborative efforts are crucial in reducing the poverty level. Constructing decent houses is an essential step in advocating the importance of a healthy home, which, in turn, enhances productivity and helps alleviate the economic condition of families. When a family lives in a healthy environment, they become more productive and motivated to work, ultimately improving their lives from poverty.

A decent house shall comply with three fundamental standards; health, security, and decency. From the ‘Health’ perspective, a house should have access to clean water and decent sanitation facility, adequate lighting, and ventilation. A firmly constructed house also provides a safe and secure place for a family to rest and live comfortably.

Let’s support Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to build more decent houses for low-income families through the Habitat Crew Program by registering at:   https://form.jotform.com/80521506673454

You can also support our missions by buying our merchandise here: https://oldweb.habitatindonesia.org/storage/2023/04/Habitat%20Merchendise%202.pdf

Sutiyanah (43) is a housewife who lives with her husband and their two children. Sutiyanah’s husband named Sakri (62) worked as an on-call motorcycle driver with unstable earnings, often earning only IDR 30,000 a day. Sutiyanah relies on her husband’s income to meet their family’s basic needs, such as buying groceries and covering her children’s educational expenses. However, the income is insufficient. Fortunately, they receive additional monthly financial support of IDR 400,000 from their child who works outside the city.

Sutiyanah and her family became one of the fortunate residents of Marga Mulya Village, Mauk, Tangerang Regency, to benefit from the house-building program by Habitat and PT. Lautan Luas Tbk. She expressed her gratitude as her long-cherished dream of owning a decent and comfortable house finally came true. Now, her family can sleep without fear of leakage or flooding from the rain. “Alhamdulillah, now I have a comfortable and safe house. Thank you, Habitat and PT. Lautan Luas,” Sutiyanah expressed with gratitude.

Previously, Sutiyanah and her family lived in a cubicle house in Bebulak Village. The condition of the house was alarming, with the floor made of dirt, the roof covered with palm fiber, and numerous holes in the walls. During rainy days, leaks would occur, causing discomfort to the family. Despite living under such conditions for 16 years, they had grown accustomed to it. One day, while they were asleep, their bed suddenly turned wet. Unfortunately, the flood had entered their house and soaked their bed.

Although they now live in a decent house built by Habitat, there were moments when Sutiyanah and her family were still haunted by their past. During a stormy night, they grew anxious and woke up from their bed. Out of habit, they grabbed water basins and buckets to anticipate any leakage, only to realize that their house was no longer made of cubicles. Instead, it had a firm foundation surrounded by sturdy walls made of light brick, a tile roof, a ceiling, and ceramic floors. Her new home was no longer prone to leaks and flooding.

Sutiyanah shared her experience, “At the beginning, there was heavy rain. My family and I were asleep. Then my child woke up and said, ‘Mom, there’s a leakage.’ We went outside to get the basin and bucket. But, as we got out, there was no leakage. We had a good laugh together as a family. Now, I have a good, safe, and comfortable house. Alhamdulillah,” expressed Ms. Sutiyanah.

Written by: Indah Mai – Mauk Project Community Organizer

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 5th, 2023, to mark the initiation of the construction of 6 decent houses, 1 water access point, and 1 school in Wanajaya Village, Karawang. Various representatives from Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, Habitat for Humanity Korea, the head of the Regional Planning Agency’s economic division, Nanang Fakhrurraji, and the head of Wanajaya Village, Emin Syaifuddin, were present. The collaborative partnership between Habitat Indonesia and LG Energy Solutions is expected to bring successful impacts in improving the residents’ lives.

According to Emin Syaifuddin, the Head of Wanajaya Village, one of the vital challenges in the 1,170-hectare-wide village is the lack of decent housing. He mentioned, “The total number of family cards in this village has reached 2,200, and approximately 200 families still live in non-decent houses.” The primary contributing factor to this issue is low income. Emin explained, “Previously, all the residents here were farmers. However, the local government converted much of the residents’ land into private lands to support the industrial revolution. As a result, many of them are now unemployed, making it challenging for them to build decent houses.”

Apart from the issue of non-decent housing, there is also a need for improved access to clean water and better education facilities in Wanajaya Village. Emin emphasized, “At least two schools in the village require renovations. Additionally, we are still relying on well water for our water supply.”

Herman, whose house and water access will be built by Habitat, shared the difficulties he has faced all these years. “From generation to generation, we have been taking water from the well, starting from my grandfather and grandmother. It has been 40 years,” said Herman as he pointed to the yellow-colored water.

The Wanajaya Village government had prepared a program to assist low-income families; however, the grant was limited, resulting in only a small number of families receiving help. “We can only assist 2 to 4 families due to the limited funds,” explained the official.

It was crucial to note that various challenges arose due to the lack of tenure ownership held by the residents of Wanajaya Village. Many lived in the forests or irrigation lands, “Since they don’t have a land-tenure security, the residents’ aspirations are often gone unnoticed.” He said.

The building program conducted by Habitat and LG Energy Solutions is expected to improve at least some of the families’ life of the total residents of Wanajaya Village. Hopefully, there will be other programs in the future to aid Wanajaya Village’s improvement. Emin Expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m glad since it has always been my aspiration as the head of the village. Thank you for looking after our residents’ needs. We believe the program will benefit those who need it the most.”

An earthquake of 5.6 magnitude on the Richter scale struck Cianjur last November, leaving Nani Sumarni’s family in a devastating situation. Just two weeks prior to the earthquake, Nani’s husband had passed away, and she was now facing the terrifying aftermath of the disaster alone. On that day, Nani was at her house, preparing to perform her Dzuhur prayer. Suddenly, the ground trembled, and her house in Barukaso, Sukajaya Sub-village, Cianjur Regency, was shaken violently. The walls of her house crumbled down, and she was hit on the back. Adding to her troubles, she was nine months pregnant and had to cope with the loss of her husband all by herself. “I tried to free myself from the ruins by pushing the fallen wall off me,” said Nani.

For a while, Nani, who was pregnant along with her 11-year-old toddler, Razza, lived in a small and uncomfortable tent measuring 5X3 meters. The tent was made of tarpaulins and had a dirt floor. Ten days after the earthquake, Nani gave birth to her daughter in a hospital. After receiving care, she returned to the emergency tent with her two children. However, the condition of the emergency tent was far from ideal and posed a threat to the health of her newborn child. “We have been living in this tent for more than 4 months. It’s uncomfortable. During the day, it becomes really hot, and at night, it’s cold. When there’s a strong wind, especially if it comes with heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, I’m afraid that the tent will collapse,” Nani expressed her concerns.

After the passing of her husband, Nani faced challenges in finding a stable job, and she could only make a living by working as a daily laborer, earning a monthly income that usually didn’t exceed IDR 500,000. To support herself and her family, she had to participate in Habitat and Tithe’s Cash for Work (CfA) Program, which provided employment opportunities for participants to clean up the earthquake ruins. Through this program, Nani earned a daily income ranging from IDR 120,000 to IDR 130,000, with payments made during the first and last 5 days of work. Despite the unstable nature of the job, the program provided Nani with some financial assistance to meet her children’s needs.

Nani was really grateful for Habitat and Tithe’s programs. Not only she received a temporary shelter for her family, but also a source of income during such challenging condition, “Alhamdullilah, now I have an adequate shelter. It’s covered with sturdy walls, and overall, it’s much better than a tent. I have my own room equipped with a window and a door. My children and I can sleep safely and soundly both day and night.”

Her newborn child could live and grow safely in the temporary shelter. “My baby is stronger, considering other babies who live in emergency tents are prone to catch an illness. Thank you, Habitat and Tithe, who have built the temporary shelter for my family and me. I’m content that now I can live in a place as good as this.” She said wholeheartedly.

To enhance the capacity and align the mission and vision of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia with Habitat for Humanity International, Luis Noda, the Vice President of Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific visited Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s National Office in Central Jakarta. He was accompanied by Mr. Shoban Rainford, the Director of RD Habitat Asia-Pacific, and Ms. Ana Narag, Director of HR Habitat Asia-Pacific. The visit aimed to strengthen the collaboration and exchange of knowledge between Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific and Indonesia.

The representatives of Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific began their visit to Indonesia by participating in Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s weekly devotion at the National Office in Central Jakarta. The event held special significance as it also served as a celebration to mark the inauguration of HFHI’s new office. The event commenced at 9:00 AM and concluded with a shared lunch session at 12:00 PM.

The following day, the Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific team was invited to visit several service clusters managed by Habitat for Humanity Indonesia at the Mauk Site Office. During the visit, the Asia-Pacific team had the opportunity to witness the diverse outcomes of the programs implemented by Habitat for Humanity Indonesia and assess the specific needs of the site. This first-hand experience allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of Habitat’s work and further strengthen the collaboration between the regional and national teams.

On Wednesday, July 5th, 2023, the Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific team had the chance of meeting an important figure who would serve as the host for Habitat Indonesia’s upcoming event, “Ambassador Build” in August; Ambassador Sung Y. Kim, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia. Accompanying the Habitat team were members of Habitat Indonesia’s board, including Mr. Jimmy Masrin, Mr. Rally Sudarta, Rene I. Widjaja, Ms. Kwik Wan Tien, and Ms. Lucy Kwee. The meeting provided an opportunity for the team to discuss the details and preparations for the Ambassador Build event, fostering a strong partnership and collaboration between Habitat for Humanity and the embassy.

During their visit to Jakarta, Mr. Louis Noda, Mr. Shoban Rainford, and Mr. Susanto had an important meeting with Mr. Jeffrey P. Cohen, the Mission Director of USAID Indonesia. The meeting took place at Chase Plaza on Sudirman Street in South Jakarta, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate a discussion and establish a connection between Habitat for Humanity Indonesia and the major project of IUWASH Tangguh in Banten and East Java, known as IUWASH Plus.

The visit of Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific team in Indonesia concluded with a media visitation to Bisnis Indonesia in Karet Tengsin, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, July 4th, 2023. The event began at 2:00 PM and provided an opportunity for the AP team to share the purpose of their visit to Indonesia. They also discussed one of Habitat for Humanity’s important advocacies, the Home Equals campaign, with Mr. Chamdan, a senior editor at Bisnis Indonesia.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia deeply appreciated the visit and various activities conducted by Mr. Luis Noda, Mr. Shoban Rainford, and Mrs. Ana Narag in Indonesia. The engagement and support from the Habitat AP team have left a significant impact on all those involved. The activities have served as a source of inspiration and motivation for the Habitat Indonesia team as they embark on a new fiscal year starting in July 2023.