Most of us acknowledge the island of Bali as a popular tourist destination for travelers across the globe.

In an interview with CNBC Indonesia, Sandiaga Salahudin Uno, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, mentioned that Bali is still the second largest contributor to Indonesia’s foreign exchange earnings, second only to the oil and gas industry.

Do we, however, reckon the several regions of Bali where a large number of people continue to live in poverty?

According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the poverty rate in Bali has increased sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The island went from maintaining the nation’s lowest poverty percentage at 3.61% to scoring high at 4.72%. As the result, Bali was ranked as the fourth poorest region in Indonesia. One of the five poorest regions in Bali is Karangasem Regency, located in the northeastern part of Bali Island.

Starting in 2023, as a humanitarian institution that focuses on providing decent housing for the underprivileged society, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia started a project of decent housing cluster for the residents of Purwakerti Village, one of the villages in Karangasem Regency.

Sunday, 15th January 2023, marked the beginning of the project, Habitat Indonesia held a build event. The event was attended by 21 volunteers from Jakarta, Bali, and even Singapore.

Accompanied by the other volunteers, 11 students from a well-known university in Singapore established the foundations for two of the ten houses to be built within the early stages of the project in Purwakerti Village.

The build event began with the opening speech by the National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, Susanto, and the Head of Purwakerti Village, I Nengah Suanda.

Following the short briefing on safety rules and warm-up exercises, the volunteers worked hand-in-hand to carry out build activities, establishing the foundations and relocating building materials. Although the activities went on for almost three hours, the volunteers cooperated with great enthusiasm.

After the home owners shared their testimonies, the event was closed by selecting “Volunteers of The Day” as a part of Habitat tradition in every build event.

Hopefully, the good deeds contributed by the volunteers will generate unforgettable memories and bring blessings to every family of the Bali Build 2023.

Building Homes – Building Lives – Building Communities.

Happy New Year 2023, 

Our wish for this new year is that Habitat will continue to transform towards a positive direction in poverty reduction through decent housing.

Two weeks ago, Mr. Jens Reisch, Ms. Wan Tien, one of the board of trustees, the Habitat teams, several volunteers from INSEAD University in Singapore, Thunderbird alumni, USA, and I travelled to Bali to build decent housing in Karangasem. Although Bali is famous as one of the most beautiful tourist destinations which has many unique Balinese houses, hidden away there is Karangasem that apparently has many poorly structured houses and difficulty to obtain clean water because of their high contour location. Currently they are using a pumping machine to get water from the well located next to the seashore around 2-3 kilometres away. 

On January 15, 2023, Bali Build was held. I participated in building 1 out of 2 houses. I felt so happy to be involved directly in Bali. I saw the happiness and enthusiasm on the volunteer’s face. They were willing to give out their time, energy, and even money to support the low-income families in Karangasem to get decent housing.

This Bali build was a pilot project. We plan to do another build with more number of houses this coming April or May 2023. Before the Bali Build activity, we will be holding a Habitat Charity Golf Tournament next February. With open arms, I invite everyone to join our mission. Please contact Endah by email endah.sari@habitatindonesia.org or Cila at (0821)2592-0054 for further information . 

Through this opportunity, I also would like to wish Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrate it. May we celebrate the beginning of lunar year with joy and new hope. Habitat does this by providing decent houses to people in needs as well as giving ‘new hope’ to families so that they can grow healthier and with dignity.  

Best Regards,

Susanto

Known as the most awaited event this year, AmCham (American Chamber) collaborated with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia charity partner to help survivors of the Cianjur Earthquake that occurred on November 21, 2022.

The Golf Tournament to commemorate Thanksgiving 2022 took place at the Emeralda Golf Club – Cimanggis, on November 24, 2022. The event attracted 148 enthusiastic players to participate in the tournament. The event started early in the morning with a delicious breakfast. The golfers used it as an opportunity to meet and chat again after a gap of 2 years. The event started when the sky was clear and the sun was shining bright, making the golfers excited to play and compete to be the winner.

After the match, the players were treated to a thanksgiving lunch provided by one of the sponsoring partners. The lunch event was also used to announce the winners and to auction exclusive items prepared by AmCham. The auction aims to raise donations from golfers to help the survivors of the Cianjur Earthquake who urgently need help clearing the rubble of houses that were heavily damaged or collapsed.

During the auction, a donation of IDR 44,000,000 (forty-four million rupiahs) was collected to be handed over to Habitat Indonesia. The donation will be distributed to help survivors of the earthquake. This donation is a form of the golfer’s concern for the disaster victims. Hopefully, this can ease the burden on our brothers and sisters in Cianjur to recover soon and live a normal life again. This tournament is also a testament to AmCham’s concern for many souls.

Linda Takarendehan, usually called Mrs. Ona, was forced to flee for a long time in a refugee camp due to the Ternate conflict that occurred in 2013. Despite the economic difficulties, this family never give up on the situation. To meet their daily needs, Oda often worked as a laundry worker while her husband worked as a casual daily laborer. They never dare to dream of owning a house since fulfilling their daily needs is already challenging. Living in the shelter, where cleanliness is uncertain, made Ona worry about the health of her two children.

“We did not have a house, but we worked hard and prayed that one day we could have one.,” said Ona, remembering her time in the shelter.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia continues to carry out humanitarian missions to build hope and homes for low-income families, and Ona is one of them. Ona was very enthusiastic when she heard about the program from Habitat and that it was allocated to Bitung. She took part in the training programs held by Habitat, and she believed that this training would be beneficial for her life at that time. The training delivered some materials, such as financial training on managing finances by saving, making compost, farming, and so on.

After participating in the training, Ona started to apply things she learned. She built a habit of saving by setting aside her income as a brickmaker and her husband’s income as a freelancer working as a motorcycle taxi driver for the future of her two children. Financial training has also made Ona a woman who knows which needs are prioritized, such as having a decent place to live by putting aside wishes that are not a primary need.

Financial training had a significant impact on Ona. Not only saving became a lifestyle, but also the achievement of this mother of two through implementing the training provided by Habitat, which resulted in being able to pay off the building materials until her house was done in 2019.

“I feel so happy, I still cannot believe it, and it is like a dream. With my husband’s income, who only works as a casual laborer, he can own a house now. That dream come true by applying financial training held by Habitat Indonesia.” he said confidently.

Habitat Indonesia believes that decent homes can form better generations of the nation. Hopefully, Ona and her family can live comfortably in her new home.

“I feel so happy, I still cannot believe it, and it is like a dream. With my husband’s income who only works as a casual laborer, he can own a house now. That dream come true by applying financial training held by Habitat Indonesia.” he said confidently.

Habitat Indonesia believes that decent homes can form better generations of the nation. Hopefully, Ona and her family can live comfortably in her new home.

Christmas is a moment to commemorate the birth of the Lord JESUS CHRIST for all humanity. His birth in this world shows how great His Love is. Habitat for Humanity Indonesia celebrated Christmas with all employees on December 16, 2022, at the National Office. Mr. Rene Widjaja and Mr. Rally also attended the Christmas celebration that night as representatives of the Habitat for Humanity Indonesia Board, and Mr. Jusuf Arbianto as the representative of the Advisory Council of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia.

The celebration was started with solemn and meaningful worship. After the Christmas Eve service, the celebration was also enlivened with various exciting activities such as games, selection of the best outfit of the day, and watching Christmas videos, which were participated in by all Habitat Indonesia employees at the National Office and on the sites. At the end of the event, the celebration night was closed with remarks delivered by the Head of Habitat Indonesia Christmas Committee 2022, Mr. Luki.

This Christmas moment is also a reminder to give thanks for God’s inclusion in Habitat Indonesia. Hopefully, Habitat Indonesia will continue to be passionate about carrying out humanitarian missions, realizing the dreams of low-income families to have a home and hope.

HABITAT for Humanity Indonesia and Purpose, a Bali-based block chain company, released 111,111 impact-NFT artworks created by renowned architect Raul Renanda. The collaboration aims to raise funds to construct 500 houses for low-income families.

Founder of Purpose, Okki Soebagio, said the impact-NFT collection resulted from collaborating with a creative movement, Ganara Art.

“We at Purpose are very proud to be working with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to launch this extraordinary impact-NFT collection,” said Okki in a statement Friday (2/12).

This project, said Okki, will strengthen the company’s position as an impact-NFT initiator worldwide. Okki admitted that his party would consistently explore various social movements that could contribute through the impact-NFT collaboration platform.

Meanwhile, the National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, Susanto, said this collaboration shows that the quality of human life and works of art can follow trends or innovations like NFTs. Also read: attracting the customer interest, Golden Rama Tours & Travel Update Website Appearance. “We are delighted to be collaborating with Raul Renanda and Purpose. It strongly shows the quality of human life, and works of art can follow trends/innovations like NFTs,” he said.

The construction of 500 houses from impact-NFT sales, he said, could inspire the company’s partners. The more parties that work together, we can serve low-income families in obtaining housing, sanitation, and a decent life.

Meanwhile, Raul Renanda said he was proud to be part of the collaboration between Habitat for Humanity and Purpose. He said this collaboration could improve the quality of artists and designers, “People can now enjoy my passion for art and design in the form of the Impact-NFT Collection from Habitat For Humanity Indonesia. I was very proud when they chose me to design the Habitat for Humanity Indonesia 500 house project. We have created a great standard for all artists and designers,” said Raul Renanda. (RO/OL-7).

Jakarta: Habitat Indonesia, in collaboration with Modena and the famous Indonesian pianist and composer, Ananda Sukarlan, have successfully held a charity concert entitled “Songs for Cianjur” on Wednesday (7/12). This concert raised funds to help earthquake survivors in Cianjur, West Java.

“The charity concert, held at the Modena Experience Center Kemang, South Jakarta at 19.00 WIB is a quick step by Habitat to help earthquake survivors in Cianjur immediately,” said National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, Susanto, in a written statement Thursday (8/12).

He continued that as a humanitarian organization who is responsible for responding to disasters, must aware to the need of quick response to help those affected by the disaster. Seeing the success of the concert held last year with Ananda Sukarlan to help survivors of the Tropical Cyclone Seroja in NTT, Habitat re-invited Ananda to have a charity concert.

Habitat’s collaboration with Ananda Sukarlan is the second collaboration to help disaster survivors after previously successfully holding a charity concert and raising funds of nearly 1 billion rupiahs to help survivors of the Tropical Cyclone Seroja that hit NTT in 2021.

The Songs for Cianjur charity concert presented six classical music performances by Ananda Sukarlan. Ananda also made songs especially for Cianjur survivors, and he performed them for the first time.

Three of the six pieces of music played were auctioned and the three guests won with the highest price. In his dazzling performance, Ananda was accompanied by soprano Mariska Setiawan and baritone Kadek Ari Ananda, two of the best classical vocalists in Indonesia today.

“I hope the guests who attend can enjoy the music I perform while donating. As an artist, the melodies at tonight’s concert are clear evidence of my concern and way of supporting the brothers and sisters in Cianjur. I invite all of us to contribute to helping them recover faster,” said Ananda.

The charity concert, held approximately for 3 hours, was attended by leaders from various companies and socialites who showed their enthusiasm to donate. Susanto emphasized that all funds collected would be distributed to earthquake survivors in Cianjur.

“We will use the funds raised tonight to build decent houses for more than 1,000 families who experienced the earthquake in Cianjur. Not long after the quake hit, we distributed 199 emergency shelter kits for small repair and debris clean-up, and 199 hygiene kits to 199 families”, added Susanto.

The night of the charity concert was made even more lively by the appearance of the guests and donors present. Apart from presenting musical works, the guests who attended also had the opportunity to enjoy a delicious dinner menu served directly by a famous chef, Gilles Marx and the team.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia

#SahabatHabitat

Time flies so fast, 2022 will end soon. We shall be grateful for God’s blessing to this organization throughout this year, and that our programs have run smoothly.

In the month of commemoration of the birth of the Savior; allow me to convey Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.

On December 7, 2022, I am pleased because Habitat has the opportunity to hold a charity dinner concert with Ananda Sukarlan and friends. The concert was held to raise funds to help earthquake survivors in Cianjur, West Java.

The collaboration with Ananda is Habitat’s second collaboration after successfully holding the Songs for NTT charity concert to help survivors of the Tropical Cyclone Seroja in NTT back in 2021.

The concert titled Songs for Cianjur was attended by special guests consisting of businessmen and socialites. One of them is Fofo Sariaatmadja, a well-known businessman in Indonesia.

The guests enthusiastically welcomed Ananda’s classical music while donating. They also did not hesitate to raise their bids for the three songs auctioned by Ananda. The funds raised will help more than one thousand families, the earthquake survivors in Cianjur, by building decent temporary housing and fulfilling other urgent needs.

The current condition of the survivors is still very concerning. They still need more clean water access, decent temporary housing, and adequate health support.

Let’s pray and show solidarity to help Cianjur recover faster, where you can extend by donating via:

Habitat Kemanusiaan Ind. Yay

BCA 210 3002958

or visit: kitabisa.com/campaign/solidaritashabitatindonesiauntukcianjur 

Once again, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2023. Let’s end this year with thanksgiving and joy and welcome the New Year with new hopes and blessings.

Regards,

Susanto