Stories of Change
Gunungkidul, March 16, 2026 – A deep sense of emotion fills Karju whenever he reflects on his life journey. At 75 years old, he never imagined that in his later years he and his wife would finally be able to enjoy a more decent kitchen and toilet in their modest home in Nglipar District, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta.
Karju and his wife, Jumiyati, who is 64, are simple farmers. In their daily lives, they rely on the harvest from their rice fields to make ends meet. Some of the rice they grow is consumed by the family, while the rest is sold to buy basic household necessities. When the harvest is not plentiful, they make use of whatever is available around their garden.
“It’s not just rice. Whatever we have in the garden—bananas, chickens, anything—we sell it. The important thing is that we can eat every day,” said Karju.
However, their simple life has also been accompanied by many limitations. Their kitchen was only surrounded by old bamboo walls that had become fragile and full of holes due to age. This condition often made it difficult for Jumiyati when preparing meals for her husband, especially when heavy rain or strong winds came.
Animals would often enter through the gaps in the bamboo walls, making the kitchen dirty and causing unpleasant odors. For this elderly couple, such conditions not only disrupted their comfort but also threatened their health.
Another difficulty they had faced for decades was the lack of proper sanitation facilities at home. Every time they needed to use the toilet, they had to go outside and walk several meters from the house.
“I always prayed that someday we would be blessed with the means to have a proper kitchen and toilet,” Karju said.
He also often felt worried whenever earthquakes or strong winds occurred—something that is not uncommon in the Gunungkidul area. “When there’s an earthquake, we can really feel it here. Or when strong winds come, we’re afraid the kitchen or toilet might collapse, especially since they were only made of bamboo,” he explained.
Read also: Hope Rising from Ibu Sri’s Small Kitchen
The prayers they had long offered finally found their way. Through the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) access improvement program, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, together with generous donors, helped rebuild the kitchen and toilet in Karju and Jumiyati’s home to make them safer and more suitable to use. This program not only supported their family but also helped 24 other families in Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta.
Now, a new kitchen and toilet stand firmly in their home. The change is felt not only physically but also deep in the hearts of this elderly couple. The worries that once lingered have gradually been replaced with a sense of peace.
“We feel calm and relieved now. There’s no more worry or fear. The new kitchen and toilet are much better and stronger,” Karju said.
The new kitchen has now become the space they use most often. During the holy month of Ramadan in particular, the room has become a witness to their simple moments of happiness. “Now we have our pre-dawn meal and break our fast here in this kitchen. It feels joyful and heartwarming,” Karju said with a smile.
Having a toilet inside the house also brings greater comfort, especially for them at their age. “Now we’re no longer worried about going to the toilet at night or when it rains because it’s already inside the house. It helps us so much,” he added.
For Karju and Jumiyati, the new kitchen and toilet are not merely structures. They symbolize hope, peace of mind, and a restored sense of dignity in their later years. At an age when their strength is no longer what it once was, having a safe and decent home is a truly meaningful blessing.
Small changes like this prove that support and compassion can create a significant impact on the lives of families in need. A home is not only a place for shelter, but also a space where people can live their days with safety, comfort, and hope.
Let’s explore more inspiring stories about how Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s programs are bringing real change to families across various regions. Each story is proof that together, we can build not only homes, but also hope.
Writer: Kevin Herbian
(kh/av)
