House Renovation in Kamal Muara: Helping towards Self-Support

Journalist : Anand Yahya, Photographer : Anand Yahya

Sulusia supports her family financially by selling food and drinks near her house.

As the clock hit ten in the morning, a bright light arose from the northern sky. From a distance, a middle-aged woman with a joyful face could be seen sweeping the terrace of her white house with gray accents and a blue roof. There was also the happy sound of kids laughing as they played down the small lane.

Sulusia (49), a resident of Kamal Muara, Penjaringan District, North Jakarta, welcomed three Tzu Chi volunteers from the Tzu Chi Bedah Kampung Program—Teksan Luis, Joe Riadi, and Hok Lai—to her home. This memorable occasion was the outcome of their visit. Sulusia was one of the beneficiaries of the Tzu Chi Bedah Rumah program in Kamal Muara Phase 1 in 2018.

Sulusia, also known as Ibu Sulu, was greeted warmly and expressed her happiness at having moved into the renovated house from Bedah Kampung at the Tzu Chi Foundation around six years ago. She had never imagined that she would one day own an appropriate house.

Volunteers serving in Kamal Muara's rural surgery program, Hok Lai, Texan Luis, and Joe Riadi, paid Sulusia a visit. Her walls were covered in wallpaper with a batik pattern.

"I am very happy to have been helped by Buddha Tzu Chi, not only with the house construction but also with household equipment such as a gas stove, rice cooker (magic com), bed, table, chairs, carpet—I am very happy," Mrs. Sulu stated.

The Buddha Tzu Chi Indonesia Foundation constructed a very lovely and cozy home. There are three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a front terrace in this permanent building. Sulusia's family and her two kids are able to get together joyfully every day thanks to this arrangement. They have now been living on this property for almost six years, and the structure is still kept up well. Sulusia and her spouse even went so far as to decorate the walls of the home with wallpaper.

Sulusia mentioned that her children can now study easier because of additional facilities provided by the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation, in addition to the improved living conditions in a healthier environment. She even dreams of providing her kids with a higher education. "I want my children to go to higher education to succeed—if the mother is struggling, let the children succeed," Sulusia added.

Sulusia is cleaning the terrace of her 2018 Tzu Chi-constructed home.

Zahra, 18, Sulusia's first daughter, has received her vocational high school (SMK) graduation. She began working for a logistics company a few days ago. Zahra is eager to go to college simply because she wants to improve her family's economic standard. My daughter really wants to attend college. I once heard Zahra say she wanted to attend college. How is she able to attend college? College is expensive; therefore, I don't have the money," Sulusia said to Zahra. Sulusia's husband, Komarudin, works as a day laborer at the fish auction. Sulusia herself sells snacks nearby her house.

“Seeing the difficult economic situation of her family, she really wants to help her parents,” Sulusia said with a trembling voice. Once, Zahra expressed her desire to go to college to her parents. “Zahra wants to go to college, Mom,” Zahra said. “Mom doesn’t have the money, Zahra; college is expensive,” Sulusia replied. “In that case, Zahra will work first, and in a few years, Zahra will go to college.” Sulusia recalled Zahra's words while crying.

Tzu Chi volunteers attend to and encourage recipients of Bedah Rumah.

One day, Tzu Chi volunteer Teksan Luis dropped Sulu a visit. He is the coordinator of the Tzu Chi Bedah Rumah Program in Kamal Muara. Zahra was there by coincidence, assisting her mother in getting supplies ready for their booth. Zahra had recently graduated from vocational high school (SMK) this year when Teksan asked about her. He inquired about Zahra's educational goals after Sulusia.

"Where is Zahra planning to finish her schooling?" Sulusia was asked by Teksan. Sulusia answered, "My daughter would want to go to college if we had the money, sir." Is Zahra interested in going to nursing school? Teksan suggested. It’s a three-year program, and then you could work in a hospital.”

When Teksan offered Zahra an opportunity to raise her family's standard of living and a glimpse of hope for the future, she was instantly impacted and started sobbing with conflicting feelings of thankfulness and delight. Zahra might continue working at the logistics firm to temporarily support her family's income while she waits for confirmation from Teksan.

He Qi Utara 1 community's Tzu Chi volunteers are shown in a documented photograph examining Sulusia's house at the beginning of the renovation project in Kamal Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

As Sulusia learned that Zahra received an invitation from the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation to attend nursing school, she was moved to tears. I'm both melancholy and grateful. That the Tzu Chi Foundation wants to help entirely. Strangers support my child in pursuing a higher education and being successful, when not even relatives are able to provide support. With luck, she'll be able to support her parents later on," Sulusia sobbed.

"I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation for their support in raising my family from difficulties and into a better financial situation," Sulusia stated.

She also thinks of her house as a palace. "With the support and attention given by Tzu Chi volunteers, I seem to be the most fortunate person, especially when I see the neatly organized and clean kitchen appliances."

Sulusia has taken good care of her 2017-built house. To keep the exterior walls clean and neat, she covered them with wallpaper patterned with a batik design. The walls had been white, but because my nieces and nephews are still relatively young and often visit, I was concerned they might scribble something on the walls. Ibu Sulu said, "I decided to wallpaper all the surfaces as a result."

Under the supervision of Teksan Luis, the Kamal Muara Village Bedah Kampung Program survey team continues to collaborate to improve the standard of living for Kamal Muara people and break the cycle of poverty by providing suitable houses.

Ibu Sulu's family frequently pays her visits because the Tzu Chi Foundation constructed her home. "They often visit; some are from Bekasi, some are from Kayu Besar. They enjoy coming here since the home is in better condition than it was previously, Ibu Sulusia remarked, beaming.

Sulusia is also excited that Tzu Chi volunteers visit her frequently. "These volunteer visits make me feel well taken care of. They instruct us on how to maintain and keep the house orderly. In addition, I may trust the volunteers with any worries I may have. Sulusia mentioned.

Now, the Tzu Chi Village Bebenah program in Kamal Muara has entered the fifth stage and has awakened 30 suitable housing units in Kelurahan Kamal Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

Translator: Erika (Tzu Chi School)

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