Clean Water for the Residents of Kuranten Village

Journalist : Clarissa Ruth, Photographer : Clarissa Ruth

The inauguration of the water point in Pakuhaji Village began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Captain Deddy Bonar Sirait, Commander of the Pandeglang Military District 0101, Joe Riadi, Head of the Tzu Chi Emergency Response Team, and Jaja Raharja, a resident of Kuranten Village.

Water is a fundamental need for all living creatures; without it, our lives would be difficult and full of suffering. This is what the residents of Kuranten Village in Pandeglang, Banten, have been experiencing. Despite being near the foothills of a mountain, the residents face "drought." This is because Kuranten Village is near Mount Karang, where there are many rocks, making it hard to find water sources. Hearing about the difficulties faced by the residents of Kuranten Village, Tzu Chi volunteers did not remain idle. In 2021, Tzu Chi volunteers, with the help of local residents, began searching for water sources that could be used by the entire Kuranten community.

After overcoming various obstacles, including drilling at approximately 11 water points without finding an adequate water source, the effort seemed almost in vain. "We volunteers and the residents were nearly desperate in our search for a water source, but we adhered to the Tzu Chi spirit, so we didn't give up before finding the water," said Eddy Sheen, a volunteer with the Tzu Chi Emergency Response Team in Tangerang. It turns out that determination and good intentions do indeed yield results.

With the help of a resident who owned land in Pakuhaji Village, located about 3 kilometers from Kuranten Village, a solution was finally found. Pakuhaji Village has a more abundant water supply, and after drilling only 6 meters, a water source was discovered.

The collaboration between the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation and the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) has yielded positive results. Eddy Sheen (right), a Tzu Chi volunteer who has been involved in the development of this water source since 2021, feels very happy and believes that the efforts of the residents and volunteers have not been in vain.

"Fortunately, Mr. Yusep, one of the residents, kindly offered his land for us to dig a water source in Pakuhaji Village. The water is then channeled through break-resistant pipes to Kuranten Village, which is three kilometers away, to be used by approximately 600 families there," recounted Eddy Sheen.

After drilling a water point 40 meters deep in Pakuhaji Village, the water source was successfully completed in just three days. For the past six months, the residents of Kuranten Village have had a much more abundant water supply. To express gratitude and celebrate the joy of the residents of Kuranten and Pakuhaji, a water source inauguration ceremony was held on Thursday, May 3, 2024, in Pakuhaji Village, Pandeglang, Banten. The event was attended by Tzu Chi volunteers from Jakarta and Tangerang, the Pandeglang military, and local residents. "It's incredibly joyful; this is a significant achievement for us after multiple failures. The happiness of the residents makes all the efforts worthwhile. We hope the residents of Kuranten Village will continue to conserve water so it remains sufficient," Eddy Sheen expressed.

The same hope was conveyed by Captain Inf. Deddy Bonar Sirait, Commander of the Pandeglang Military District 0101, "Our hope (TNI AD and Tzu Chi) for the community is to take care of this water source. This water is a blessing from God, so please take care of it, do not waste it, and use it as needed."

Happiness radiated from the faces of the Tzu Chi volunteers from Jakarta and Tangerang as they witnessed the inauguration of the water source in Pakuhaji Village. They shared in the joy because they were finally able to fulfill the dream of the residents of Kuranten.

Fighting for the Safety of Residents

The clean water crisis in Kuranten Village left a bitter story, where residents fought over water, leading to conflicts and even the use of sharp weapons. This situation drove Muhammad Yusep, a resident of Kuranten Village, to resolve to create a dedicated water source for the residents of Kuranten.

"At that time, before Friday prayers, while preparing for ablution, the water supply was insufficient, causing two residents to fight and slash each other. One person was injured and hospitalized, while the other was jailed. This incident saddened me, and I resolved to find a way to ensure this village had its own water source. I started looking for donors who could help us provide a water source in the village to prevent such incidents from happening again. Together with the neighborhood heads (RT and RW), we often asked the government for water assistance. Finally, in 2021, we connected with Tzu Chi, and we have been striving together since then," Yusep recounted.

After the inauguration, the volunteers and residents had the opportunity to taste the fresh mountain water from the water source in Pakuhaji Village. This water source is channeled to Kuranten Village, which is three kilometers away from Pakuhaji Village.

The struggle, far from being easy, has been overcome by Tzu Chi volunteers and Yusep, who has always been willing to accompany and assist in providing the water source. Yusep shared that in Kuranten Village, they once successfully found a water source, and the residents were so happy that they even held a celebration because of the presence of water in their village. However, the water source only lasted for two months, and afterward, they experienced a water crisis again. But this did not dampen Yusep's spirit to continue fighting. He thought, if Kuranten Village doesn't have abundant water, why not source it from elsewhere and channel it to the village where he has lived for the past 7 years?

"I was born and raised in Pakuhaji Village, where the water is abundant, and fortunately, there is still land left by my parents to build a water source. My family also agreed, so I offered this land to Tzu Chi. Tzu Chi and the military agreed, and with a short process, the residents can now enjoy the water and no longer face water difficulties. Even though it's three kilometers away, this water source can be used by the residents of Pakuhaji Village," Yusep happily shared, as his efforts have yielded positive results for the residents.

Muhammad Yusep's struggle to provide water for the residents of Kuranten has finally come to fruition, as he donated a portion of his family's land in Pakuhaji Village.

Currently, the tap system operates on a scheduled basis. The water taps are opened from 6 AM and closed at 6 PM, and they are rested during the night. The water channeled to Kuranten Village is temporarily stored in the mosque within the village, and residents fetch water from there.

"Because there are no storage facilities or infrastructure in Kuranten Village to directly supply water to the residents' homes, we currently relocate it to the mosque, and residents are free to collect it there (according to their needs). Alhamdulillah, we no longer face difficulties with clean water. The struggle can be considered successful, thanks to the support from Tzu Chi. My hope is that this water becomes a blessing, enduring, and always beneficial to the residents," Yusep expressed.

Passing Down the Water Source for Future Generations

Jaja Raharja (50), a native of Kuranten Village, has been fighting since a young age to help his parents obtain clean water. Jaja fetched water from distant sources, thinking that the situation would only be temporary. However, even now, at his age, after having a family with children and grandchildren, he realizes that his birth village is still facing a water crisis, which also affects the lack of prosperity among its residents. The scarcity of water in Kuranten Village impacts the health of its residents and leads to social tensions, misunderstandings, and discomfort among the community.

Jaja Raharja demonstrates that in his home, there is now an adequate supply of water stored, sufficient for daily needs such as cooking, drinking, and bathing.

"I felt so sad, you know, while others were celebrating clean water, we were having our own 'tearful celebration' because we lacked it. There were even tragic incidents in our village solely because of water issues. It may seem trivial, but for us, it's a huge problem," Jaja recounted, tears welling up as he flashed back to those heartbreaking moments.

Jaja, who also fought for a water source for Kuranten Village, now feels immensely relieved and happy. With the water flowing into their village, he hopes that such dark days will never recur. Jaja and other residents are deeply grateful to the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation for making their big dream of having a clean water source a reality.

"I'm grateful, really, in this day and age, there are still people who care regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. I'm moved, it's incredibly extraordinary how much they care about us, how close they are to us. Our issues became their issues, and together we've been fighting since 2021 until now, 2024, and finally, a water source for Kuranten residents has become a reality. All of this is also thanks to the support of Tzu Chi volunteers. I express my heartfelt thanks," Jaja emotionally expressed.

The Tzu Chi volunteers and residents posed for a photo together at the water source in Pakuhaji.

This water source becomes a beautiful history and legacy for the residents of Kuranten for their future generations. So that in the future, their descendants won't struggle too much to get clean water, and surely, living harmoniously among the community will be more peaceful and cohesive.

"I believe that with the water source from Pakuhaji, the economic life of the Kuranten community will improve. Agriculture will thrive with abundant water. Especially during the dry season, we won't have to worry anymore because there's enough water to sustain the 5,000 residents of Kuranten. We will also take care of this water resource, nurturing it for its sustainability. Because eventually, we will pass this down to our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren," Jaja expressed his hope.

Translator: Vissia (Tzu Chi School)