Assistance for Residents at Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing

Tzu Chi Indonesia Buddhist Compassion Relief Foundation showed their care and concern by distributing 707 basic food packages to residents at Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing, West Jakarta due to the Covid-19 outbreak. 

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak made it difficult for most people to make ends meet. The Tzu Chi Indonesian Foundation continues to alleviate the burden of the underprivileged people through the distribution of food packages. One of the distributions was done for residents of Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Cengkareng Housing, West Jakarta, which took place at the beginning of Ramadhan (fasting month) for two days (27-28 April 2020).

This assistance was showing Tzu Chi's care and concern for the residents of the Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Cengkareng Housing in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most residents also work in the informal sector, which made them directly affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.  To that end, the manager of the Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Cengkareng  and Tzu Chi volunteers took the initiative to distribute the food aid directly.

Hartono (front), the coordinator of the food packages distribution as well as the manager of the Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Cengkareng Housing, symbolically handed over the food packages to the residents along with Tzu Chi volunteers.

As many as 707 packages were distributed to residents at 16 neighbourhood units (RT) in Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Cengkareng Housing. Hartono, the manager of the Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Cengkareng Housing, was in charge as coordinator of the food aid distribution and conveyed his findings where a high number of residents was affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Initially, we sent a request for aid to the foundation, since the residents at the low-cost rental apartment (Rusun) were highly affected by this Covid-19 pandemic. Once it was agreed, we tried to distribute them. These food packages are very useful and are highly needed by our residents amid this difficult time,” said Hartono.

Tzu Chi volunteer Teguh Bunarto handed over food packages to one of the residents of the Tzu Chi Cinta Kasih Cengkareng Housing.

The food packages consist of 5 kilograms of rice, 1 kilograms of oil, 1 kilograms of sugar, 8 bottled drinks, and 10 vegetarian instant noodles DAAI Mie. The distribution was done directly to the residents with the help from Tzu Chi volunteer and the Head of the RTs. During the distribution process, volunteers also advised the residents to use face mask and live a clean, hygiene lifestyle.

“Of course aside from distributing the aid, we also advise the residents to always use face masks and live a clean, healthy lifestyle. We hope this food assistance can support them in this time of the year, to help them doing their fasting well,” said Teguh Bunarto, a Tzu Chi volunteer who helped the food distribution.

The food packages consist of 5 kilograms of rice, 1 kilograms of oil, 1 kilograms of sugar, 8 bottled drinks, and 10 vegetarian instant noodles DAAI Mie were packed in boxes and are ready to be distributed to Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing.

The residents at Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing were beyond excited to receive the food assistance from Tzu Chi. After called by each Head of RT in their respective blocks, they went down one by one and stood in line wearing face masks while maintaining their distance to each other.

One of the residents who receive this aid is Narsah (50). The year 2020 has been a difficult year for Narsah and her family since they can’t go back to their hometown in West Java for Eid to follow government’s rules to stop the spread of Covid-19 outbreak.”Normally, we all go home together by bus, but this year we can’t gather together as ruled by the government not to,” she said.

Narsah (50) a resident Block B-10 at Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing matched her data with the manager before receiving the food packages. 

In the middle of Covid-19 pandemic, Narsah’s husband income who works as a low-paying worker has become unstable. As a housewife, Narsah is very happy with the attention given by Tzu Chi through this food assistance, especially at this time entering the fasting month. “I am happy for this help, this food will be useful for our day-to-day meal, we can use it for break fasting as well as our predawn meal,” said the woman who lives at Block B-10 at Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing.

Narsah is not the only one who’s happy with the food assistance. The food assistance also helped Siti Sadiah (50) who lives at Block A-4 at Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing. Since 2003, Siti and her husband has been staying at Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing.

Tzu Chi volunteers distributed the food packages to Siti Sadiah (50). She found this aid very valuable, since her husband can no longer work due to his illness.

Initially, Siti’s husband was still working until he fell sick in 2015 and can no longer work. To make ends meet, Siti Sadiah and her husband are supported by her children. The situation in the middle of this Covid-19 pandemic makes things difficult for her. “We are hoping this outbreak will gone soon and I would like to thank you, since this aid is very valuable for me at home,” said Siti Sadiah.

The Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi Cengkareng Housing in West Jakarta was built to accommodate 1,100 families who used to live at the banks of Angke River and Adem River and was officially opened in 2003. The housing complex was equipped with a school for all levels, sports facilities, playgrounds, recycling centers, and a hospital. Since its inception, the attention and assistance of Tzu Chi volunteers has never subsided in guiding and fostering residents in order to achieve a better life.

Translator: Chrestella Budyanto (Tzu Chi School)