EN-ID Blog
That afternoon, in a village on the northern coast of Tangerang, Tinah (45) was busy watering the plants that decorated her blue house. Her face radiated a smile unlike any seen before—one filled with hope and happiness. The dream she had long carried in prayers and hope had finally come true. A decent home she had always wished for to enjoy her old age and care for her beloved grandchild now stood firmly before her.
Before the new house arrived, Tinah’s life was full of struggle. The inherited home from her parents, with bamboo walls and a leaky roof, felt extremely limited and uncertain. “I used to sleep in the living room, and my husband slept outside on a bamboo bench. When it rained, water would leak in from the holes in the roof. We tried to endure it, but it was really hard,” recalled Tinah, her eyes welling up as she remembered those difficult times.
It wasn’t just the rain that threatened them—fear also filled the house. The decaying walls made the house not only prone to leaks but also vulnerable to animals. “One night, a snake got in. My daughter, who was pregnant at the time, was so frightened. We were all panicking,” Tinah said, her voice trembling. The fear didn’t stop there. The house also became a target for crime, with more than two break-in attempts. “More than twice, someone tried to break in when no one was home. I was terrified,” she added, her eyes staring into the distance, as if reliving the anxiety.
For Tinah and her family, owning a decent home was never easy. Her husband, Sarnadi (45), works as a fisherman laborer catching crabs and harvesting seaweed, earning only about Rp100,000 (USD 6) a day. Tinah also works as a farm laborer, adding Rp50,000 (USD 3) to their daily income. With that limited income, they could only afford basic meals and patch up the damaged house walls. “We couldn’t even think about building a new house. It was already hard enough just to eat. The leftover money was only enough to patch the broken walls,” said Tinah with a tired but resilient expression.
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Everything changed when Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, together with IES Jakarta, came to help build new, decent homes for Tinah and 49 other families in Marga Mulya Village, Mauk, Tangerang. “I’m so grateful to Habitat and IES for building us a beautiful home like this,” Tinah said with deep gratitude.
Now, Tinah feels like her life has changed. “I have a new spirit. My mind is at ease—I no longer worry about leaks or animals entering the house. Now I can just focus on feeding my family and caring for my grandchild,” she said with a bright smile. This home is more than just a shelter—it provides safety, peace of mind, and renewed hope for Tinah and her family.
Sarnadi can now work more confidently without worrying about the house’s condition, even starting to set aside small savings for the future. “We have a dream—to one day save enough to build a kitchen in the back and a permanent front porch,” Tinah shared with hope in her voice.
For Tinah, this house is more than just a place to live. It’s a symbol of freedom, a place where her family can grow in safety and comfort. This house has become the foundation for a better future, where dreams and aspirations can flourish.
The presence of a decent home not only provides physical comfort but also brings stability and independence. It’s a significant transformation with long-term impact for families like Tinah’s, giving them the opportunity to live a better life.
Habitat for Humanity Indonesia invites you, #SahabatHabitat, to be part of this journey. Help us build more decent homes for millions of families across Indonesia. Visit: www.habitatindonesia.org/donate
(kh/av)
