Eid Package 2019: Attention for Bantargebang Residents

Kusri is sorting out items that can be resold. After the husband collected it from Bantargebang TPST, Kusri's job at home was to sort it out before it was sold.

A strong unpleasant smell welcoming me when I rode up to Bantargebang residence, Bekasi, West Java. The closer to the residence, the worse its scent. As if there is the law of gravitation, the closer we get, the stronger the bad smell. Sometimes after, I used to it. Maybe that is the reason why hundreds of residents in the tenements familiar with the smell and dirty environment. Smelly and rundown at first, and used to it afterwards.

There are hundreds of houses lined up. It is a semi-permanent houses and on the same condition. These houses are inhabited by those who work as scavengers, scavenging what left from the mountain of rubbish in the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Management Site, Bekasi. On average, they are migrants (from outside Bekasi), although over time there are also many local residents who later work in "Bulog" (as local residents call Bantargebang). For migrants, Bantargebang is not a mountain of rubbish, but a "mountain of gold" for them rather than choosing to stay in a village that does not provide better conditions. Generally those who choose the profession of "miners" in Bantargebang are those who no longer have land to cultivate, or do not have permanent jobs in their hometowns.

It has been eight years for Kusri and his family to live in the area around the TPST Bantargebang. Even though it is not feasible, at least making money  is easier than at home.

Iyas (33) and Kusri (33) are two of them. This husband and wife from Indramayu, West Java have been living in this DKI Jakarta and West Java borders for eight years. "Even though the condition is like this, it is better. It's easier looking for daily income here than in the village," said Kusri when I met at her house on Sunday, May 26, 2019. At the house which she rented 300 thousand rupiah per month, Iyas and Kusri stayed with their three children. For rent, they can pay it at the end of the month, considering that the owner of the house is Iyas’ boss. As a consequence, Iyas may not sell his scavenged goods to the other party.

All of their children were born here. "When I got married I immediately moved here with my husband," said Kusri smiling. In fact, in one row of these tenement, some of them were Iyas family. Even if they are not family, at least all of them know each other and are familiar because they come from the same area.

Kusri followed her daughter's request to cook noodles. This instant noodle is one of the basic needs received from Tzu Chi, in addition to rice and cooking oil.

Life is a choice, and for Iyas and Kusri is to survive in Bantargebang. Dreams must exist, such as the desire to enjoy old age in your hometown. "Yes, bit by bit, our income is set aside for savings, hopefully we can buy rice fields," said Kusri. To make it happen, Iyas works every day from 7am to 4pm. The result is certainly not in the form of money, but a collection of used items that can be sold, such as plastic bottles, glass bottles, cardboard boxes, scrap metal, and other items. The result of her husband "mining" was then sorted by Kusri according to the item types. After that, once in every two weeks these items are sold. They can earn around 1.5 million rupiah in average. "No matter how much we earned, it must suffice us. We even have to be able to save, "said Kusri. The biggest expenditure of this family is from their daily meals which is on average 50 thousand rupiah per day. Therefore, when he received the Eid Package in the form of basic needs from Tzu Chi, Kusrim, together with 142 of his neighbors felt very grateful. "Alhamdulillah, it can be a little helpful, especially this is Lebaran," said Kusri, "Thank you, I hope the foundation (Tzu Chi) can continue to grow."

Establishing Love, Maintaining Compassion
Kusri and her neighbors are among the recipients of the Eid Package assistance from Indonesian Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation. There were 500 packages distributed at Ciketing Udik 01 Primary School, Pangkalan 6, Bantergebang District, Bekasi, West Java. Denasari, Tzu Chi volunteer who is the coordinator of this activity said that this area was chosen because of the living conditions of the residents who mostly work as scavengers. "Yes, hopefully it can help to ease their life burden for a little," said Denasari, who also lives in Bekasi.

Before the distribution of the Eid Package, the residents participate in the Tzu Chi socialization about the meaning of One Family.

In providing this assistance, in addition to involving 26 Bekasi Tzu Chi volunteers, Dena also embraced 43 other volunteers from the Catholic Women of the Republic of Indonesia, and 19 volunteers from PKK members and local youth organizations. "The more involved the better. Hopefully in the future, we can grow the spirit of volunteerism in this region," Dena said, wishing this region can become a potential Tzu Chi target area.

The activity can run well and smooth, one of which is thanks to the willingness of Aminudin, Head of Ciketing Udik Primary School 01, in allowing his school to become a place for distributing the Eid Package. "I am all for the charity. First this school belongs to the community of Ciketing Udik and Tzu Chi to provide assistance to them is great because the majority of the people here are scavengers, "Aminudin said. He also appreciated the way volunteers work, which according to him is very neat, starting from planning, coordination, to the time when the distribution takes place smoothly.

There are 500 Eid packages distributed, and 143 of them are given to those who work as scavengers.

In addition to establishing love and compassion with the local residents, in this activity Tzu Chi also reshare a love with two Tzu Chi aid recipients: Handoko and Sintia Dewi. Handoko was the recipient of Tzu Chi medical assistance in 2000, while Sintia Dewi is the recipient of Tzu Chi scholarship assistance (2013 - 2016). Both are residents of Bekasi.

Handoko had an accident which caused one of his legs to be amputated. Thanks to Tzu Chi's assistance, starting from medical expenses to fake legs, now Handoko is able to return to his normal life. He is now working and also married. "I am grateful for being helped by Tzu Chi, now I can live a normal life," he said. Handoko almost always takes the time to join Tzu Chi events in Bekasi. "Yes, I was assisted, now I try to help according to my abilities," he said.

Sintia Dewi, one of Tzu Chi's foster children who is now do well on her own, continues to established her relationship by volunteering for Tzu Chi.

On the other hand, Sintia received a scholarship from Tzu Chi for Ananda Vocational School, Bekasi. Graduating from vocational high school, Sintia immediately hired for a job. She was accepted to work as a financial staff at a company in the Pulogadung area, East Jakarta. After about three years of work, her enthusiasm for continuing her education appeared again. She also took the initiative to continue studying at the Indonesian Institute of Economics (STIE) in Bekasi at her own expense. "Yes you have to be able to apportion the time. College after office hour. If there is spare time in the weekend, I take part in the Tzu Chi activities, "she stressed.

In the midst of her busy work and college, in fact Sintia still took her time to attend various Tzu Chi activities. "Yes, maybe because it is already a match," said Sintia when asked the reason for being a volunteer for Tzu Chi. "Besides this social activity is a field of blessing for us too. If you can collect good karma, why you have to delay it," she said.

Translated by Alwing Low (Tzu Chi School)