Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing Anniversary: Thank You, Thank You Tzu Chi
Sugianto Kusuma and Franky O Widjaja, the Deputy CEOs of Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia giving a cut of tumpeng for the Acting Governor of Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono at the 20th anniversary celebration of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing.
Gratitude and joy permeate through the air at the celebration for the 20th Anniversary of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing. On that day, the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi witnessed the growth of the children who used to live at the riverbank into accomplished children.
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Bliss and gratefulness were surrounding the big family of Tzu Chi Indonesia as Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Cengkareng Housing or better known as Rusun Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi commemorated its 20th anniversary on Monday, 23 August 2023. The lively celebration which was held at the Aula of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Kindergarten was attended by 500 residents and Tzu Chi Indonesia volunteers. The presence of the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono also completed the residents and volunteers’ happiness.
The Acting Governor donned a casual outfit with white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, pantoffle shoes without socks. He stated that he wanted to reminisce the time when he had to do inspection to the residents’ houses 20 years ago near Kapuk Muara Slaughterhouse by using similar outfit. In 2002, Heru Budi Hartono was the Head of Facilities and Infrastructure for North Jakarta City. It was then he, along with Tzu Chi volunteers day by day, conducted an awareness campaign to the residents so that they would be willing to assist the Jakarta Provincial Government in tackling flooding. At that time, lots of them refused.
“After three months of conducting the campaign and meeting with community leaders several times, the challenge was that they requested for flats to be built for them. Well, that was the opportune time for river normalization, but the Jakarta Provincial Government hadn’t had a public housing program yet. Then, with humility Tzu Chi assisted in building the housings where we are today,” stated Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono. “Thank you,” he concluded, accompanied by applause from the residents.
For the Acting Governor, the establishment of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing also represents Indonesia’s largest humanity project which involved thousands of families who voluntarily build new habits, adapt to live in cleaner and more disciplined environment for a better life. Thanks to them, the Jakarta Provincial Government was able to normalize almost 2.5 km of Angke River and the width of Angke River has transformed significantly ranging from 40 to 60 meters varying at different areas. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that former residents of Angke River are environment heroes who have aided addressing Jakarta’s flooding issues to this day,” he praised, “once again, I thank you.”
Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono along with the children of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing residents, who have now achieved their respective dreams.
The Acting Governor's sense of emotion grew stronger as he witnessed the tangible results of the long-term Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing project, in which he was involved in. The real outcome was the successes of the children who were once as young as 6, 7, or 8 years old. With proper education, guidance, and support, they now had become independent with their own life choices. Some have succeeded in becoming engineers, police officers, civil servants in Jakarta, and even in ministries.
“Using this opportunity, I apologize if I inconvenienced all of you 20 years ago. I’m sure when we first met, you (the residents) disliked my arrival. I apologize,” stated the Acting Governor on stage. “But then, these children who were just 5, 6, 7 years old, together with Tzu Chi who always supports them, they obtained the opportunity to receive better education, better nutrition and today they are our successful children. I would like to congratulate all of you. I am deeply moved,” he continued with heavy voice holding back his emotion, “thank you Tzu Chi.”
Achieving a Bright Future at the Housing
One of the residents who refused was Tutin Rahayu. She was anxious, thinking if she was displaced, she wouldn’t be placed in a suitable place and it would be difficult to rebuild a new life. Moreover, the name of Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia was still strange to the ears. “The thought of the people at the outskirts were like Buddha Tzu Chi. Because of our narrowmindedness, we thought we would be guided to follow Buddhism there. So, there was no thought that we would be able to get a better and cleaner living condition. There were only negative thoughts in regards of the name of Tzu Chi,” shared Tutin. Yet, at that time floods were already like a best friend and housefires frequently haunted their area. That’s why her husband, Ali Mukmin insisted on moving as recommended by the government in an effort to tackle floods in Jakarta. Therefore, Tutin had no other choice.
Who would have thought that in the unfamiliar new place, far from everywhere and quiet at that time, would promise a bright future for her and her children. The mother of three had successfully realized her long-time dream earning a bachelor’s degree from Panca Sakti University, Bekasi, majoring in Early Childhood Education to complement her career as a preschool teacher which was fueled by her concern.
The condition of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Housing in Cengkareng now with flourishing surrounding which has facilitated the residents in advancing their livelihoods.
Initially, Tutin observed many preschool aged children playing without supervision in the housing complex area. Some were even napping at the park. Tutin felt the call to take action. Coincidentally, there was an early childhood family education called Bina Keluarga Balita (BKB) and Early Childhood Education from the Cengkareng Sub-District. Tutin, who was a cadre and the Head of the Neighborhood Association (RT) at that time, was moved to establish a preschool.
“Together with Mrs. Santi (the neighborhood chief / RW at the time), we met Mr. Aguan (Sugianto Kusuma), at Mangga Dua. Mr. Aguan allowed us to use the place for a preschool. Then we took care of the permit,” told Tutin. The preschool which was named Cinta Kasih Ibu Preschool, was established in 2011 and has continued to develop. It currently has 42 students divided into two classes.
With the challenge to balance her roles as a parent and a wife, also as a preschool teacher, Tutin pursued her bachelor’s degree starting from 2018 and graduated in 2022. Her love for knowledge and children pushed her to pursue further education and she is now in her second semester as a master’s degree student.
Meanwhile as parents, Tutin and her husband has successfully raised their three children into children they can be proud of. Their eldest, Daqnas has become a police officer for six years and is now entrusted as the escort officer for the Deputy Chief of Indonesian Police, Commisioner General Agus Andrianto.
Daqnas went to Cinta Kasih School until junior high school. Due to his talent in sports, specifically running, under the guidance and recommendation of his (then) physical education teacher at Cinta Kasih School, Mr. Ahmad Damanhuri, Daqnas continued high school at Ragunan Sports High School. Indeed, Daqnas became a proud sprinter for Jakarta, specializing in the 400-meter sprint for approximately three years. Daqnas often traveled out of town representing the Jakarta Province. He then pursued police training. His first assignment as a police officer was at the Metro Jaya Regional Police for six months. His outstanding achievements led him to become an escort officer for the Deputy Chief of Police.
“It feels like yesterday I moved here but turns out 20 years have passed. There are so many moments that I have experienced with Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia. I have never expected that my life would lead me to this point--having a child who is a police officer and me myself pursuing a master’s degree. It’s wonderful. Such thought would never have crossed my mind when I lived in Angke,” Tutin remarked gratefully, “after experiencing all this, I realized that this is what love and compassion, as provided by Tzu Chi Foundation.”
Teks: Khusnul Khotimah, Metta Wulandari
Foto: Arimami Suryo A.
Translator: Putri Millenia Hadinata (Tzu Chi Palembang)
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