Becoming the Hope and an Example for Others

Brian (16), one of Tzu Chi School students participated in painting the house built for people in Kamal Muara.  

On May 19,2019 when our volunteers from He Qi 2 community did a survey for a house in RT 10/RW 01, Kamal Muara village, Penjaringan district, North Jakarta, one of the volunteer saw a mosque, the Jami Al Huda mosque, that was nowhere near finished despite 7 years of building process. Then, the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia decided to help and finish the building of the mosque.

Aside from finishing the building of Jami Al Huda Mosque, Tzu Chi also decided to rebuilt ten houses in the area. In its first stage, there are two units being built, Ms Ayanah’s (50), resident at Gg. Masjid, and Ms Salmah’s (75), resident at RT 10/01 of Kamal Muara village, Penjaringan, North Jakarta. The target was to finish the house within the next two-three months. The demolishing of each house, at RW 001 and RW 004 Kamal Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, was done on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 by the 300 teachers and staff of Tzu Chi School.

Dream of Having a Decent House Came True
Tzu Chi’s mission to help rebuilding these houses in Kamal Muara, North Jakarta had been going on for over three months and is now under its finishing stage. About 35 teachers and students from Tzu Chi School with 34 volunteers from North He Qi 1 and 2 worked together to have 3 activities on Sunday, October 27, 2019 in Kamal Muara, North Jakarta.

Sudino Lim, SE, MM (holding the painting stick) Tzu Chi School Director’s heart was full and happy for the opportunity to be involved in the demolishing and painting process of these houses.  

Julaesih (in red) had never dreamed of having her house redone by Tzu Chi. She felt very touched when teachers and staff from Tzu Chi School came and help to paint her house.

In doing three activities at one time, teachers and staff of Tzu Chi School were divided in 5 groups of 7, accompanied with a couple of volunteers in each group. One of the group went to Julaesih’s house, she is a resident at Kamal Muara RT 006/RW 004. Julaesih (61) is known to her friends as Juju, had never dreamed of having her house rebuilt by Tzu Chi. “I am so thankful to God, so grateful to God. Now that I have a nice and beautiful house. I couldn’t even able to fix anything in my old house because I had no money, we’re already become grandparents. Sometimes our grandchildren stay over, to take care of their grandfather they said. I wish everyone to be repaid with a great blessings from God,” as she watched Tzu Chi School’s staff and teacher with teary-eyes.

Chen Pei Wen, Tzu Chi Committee member who is also a teacher at Tzu Chi School felt very thankful for the chance to participate in this event, “This is such a great activity for teachers so that we could ask our students to participate. We can fill our weekends with positive activity. This is such a great experience. We can share our smiles and other good things for people around us,” said Chen Pei Wen.

In order to achieve a joyful experience that will become memorable, there is one first thing to do. Brian (16), one of Tzu Chi School’s students who joined that day said, “I initiated to join myself, I am hoping to expand my vision and perspective. This is my first experience painting a house,” said Brian, a Grade 11 student at Tzu Chi School.

Sudino Lim, SE, MM, Tzu Chi School Director said, “This is such a heartwarming experience and very joyful. Since the day we helped demolishing the house, to the house painting today, we can see such a big change. Not only the physical built of the house itself, but the happiness in people’s faces.”

Introducing Environment Conservation

Aside from painting the houses, students from Tzu Chi School and Tzu Chi volunteers also briefed the local residents with basic knowledge of environment conservation, and doing it by cleaning the surrounding area.

Aside from painting houses that had been rebuilt by Tzu Chi, on the same day, together with the local residents, Tzu Chi volunteers gave socialization on environment conservation and clean the surrounding the house. Such effort would encourage people to care more about the cleanliness of their environment, and also provided example for people to take care of their own environment.

Jeanielyn Hartono (16), a Grade 11 student explained that prior to this event, she received an email of invitation about this activity, “I decided to join and help in regards of the environment conservation. I’ve read it somewhere that our earth is getting more ‘ill’ and is full of trash,” said Jeanielyn. She never thought the area that she visited that day would be filled with that many trashes. “I saw so many different types of trash, from food, bottles, even used baby diapers inside the gutter and around  the street. This is what causing the flood. Today’s activity is such a one-of-a-kind experience. We have to always remember to always throw our trash at the right place,” said Jeanielyn.

Providing a More Decent Life
Teksan Luis, the coordinator for the House Project in Kamal Muara explained the time when they first visited these people’s houses, most of the residents did not have stove, they cooked using such old kitchen utensils. From the very beginning, Tzu Chi volunteers have decided to provide these rebuilt houses a decent set of furniture for their house and kitchen, however, he wasn’t sure if that was allowed. “When I saw a picture of an old grandmother lying on the floor, sleeping on top of a dirty matrass, Ms Su Mei (Tzu Chi Indonesia’s Head – ed) initiated by asking us to provide them with new matrass so that they could sleep on top of a clean bed,” said Teksan Luis.

Teksan, the coordinator of Tzu Chi House Project in Kamal Muara hopes that people could live in their new houses happily, and are able to take care of them properly.

Tzu Chi volunteers also gave away a set of house and kitchen utensils to the ten people whose houses are rebuilt at Kamal Muara village.

Teksan added that it was very fortunate that a friend was willing to send their help by giving out some household items, “It was such a destiny, like a ‘click’, the fact that a friend donated. We received them straight away, and I think it was destined to be the blessing for people here. There is a beautiful destiny between people here and many parties,” said Teksan.

The happiness of ten people whose houses were rebuilt by Tzu Chi was complete. Their houses were painted and cleaned, and they are also given household items for their kitchens.

Translated by Chrestella Budyanto (Tzu Chi School)