The Inauguration of The Cinta Damai Housing, Village Revitalization Program in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta

Journalist : Metta Wulandari, Photographer : Arimami Suryo A, Metta Wulandari, Doc. DAAI TV

The façade of Cinta Damai Housing in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta amidst the densely populated neighborhood drew the attention of the local community. This building consists of four floors with 12 units ready to accommodate 11 families, and 1 unit allocated for the elderly.

The Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation Indonesia, in collaboration with the Jakarta Provincial Government and the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, inaugurated the Cinta Damai Housing in Tanah Tinggi on Friday, 27^th September 2024.

The Cinta Damai Housing, located in Tanah Tinggi Subdistrict, Johar Baru District, Central Jakarta, is part of the Village Revitalization Program using the Vertical Land Consolidation (VLC) model. It is the second project built by Tzu Chi using this model. The building consists of four floors with 12 units, each measuring 18m², to be occupied by 11 families. Meanwhile, one unit is designated as a space for the elderly room. Each unit includes a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.

Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning /National Land Agency attended the inauguration of the Cinta Damai Housing in Tanah Tinggi. He was warmly welcomed by Tzu Chi volunteers and residents with great enthusiasm.

Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (commonly referred to as AHY), the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning and Head of National Land Agency, expressed his gratitude to Acting Governor Heru and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia for their continued focus on finding the best solutions to issues faced by the residents, especially in Jakarta.

Earlier, Acting Governor Heru Budi, along with the Co-CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia, Sugianto Kusuma, accompanied AHY on a tour of the housing and provided a brief presentation on the condition of the housing before and after construction.

Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning /National Land Agency enthusiastically listening to the explanation from the Co-CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia, Sugianto Kusuma, while touring the Cinta Daa Housing in Tanah Tinggi.

AHY stated that land issues and inadequate housings are challenges faced by Jakarta and other major densely populated cities.

“Therefore, the scheme for vertical land consolidation managed by the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, including the support from Tzu Chi and other budgetary assistance, can provide much better buildings. Hopefully, this can inspire other places. We hope this can help alleviate the problems and deadlocks, providing solutions for homes, housings, and the slum conditions faced daily by the residents,” said AHY.

The Co-CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia, Sugianto Kusuma, along with the Tzu Chi Executive Director for global volunteers, Stephen Huang (representing the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia), the Acting Governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, and the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency took a group photo with representatives of the residents whom received the houses.

The Co-CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia, Sugianto Kusuma, welcomed the Minister remarks. He assured that in the future, Tzu Chi Indonesia will continue to prove support in order to create a society with a healthy environment, healthy families, and a strong economy.

“I believe that everything we do and the collaboration for the housing complex will continue to be carried out in Jakarta. First, we will complete the projects in Palmerah and Johar Baru. We will definitely continue this program. We will keep inviting other foundations to join us and follow the steps. In the future, we just need to wait for the right time and connections of fate, and we can continue to build even more,” said Sugianto Kusuma.

Stephen Huang, the Tzu Chi Executive Director for global volunteers, who represented Tzu Chi Indonesia in the welcoming remarks, expressed high appreciation for the longstanding cooperation between Tzu Chi and the government for the past decades.

“As you know, for the past 30 years, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia has followed the guidance of Master Cheng Yen (the founder of Tzu Chi) to pass out the great love which is an unconditional love because we all are one family. Our blood is the same, red, regardless of any differences. From our hearts to your hearts, hand to hand, let’s build this great community together. Lastly, I want to say that when Indonesia smiles, the whole world smiles,” he stated.

The volunteers’ celebratory moments with the residents. Teksan Lusi presented a piece of tumpeng to Kayun, one of the residents who received a house.

In addition to constructing the housings, the Village Revitalization Program will continue to be developed to the surrounding areas of the built housings, including volunteer support for the families residing there in various aspects, such as health, educations, sanitation improvement, and go green programs. It is expected that this program will enhance the welfare of the community, particularly in Tanah Tinggi, in terms of economy, social well-being, and health.

Since 2006, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia has initiated the Village Revitalization Program for those in need with the motto “Healthy Environment, Healthy Families, Healthy Economy,” starting in Kampung Belakang, Kamal, West Jakarta. To date, Tzu Chi Indonesia has built 1,441 habitable housing units in various regions across Indonesia, including Bandung, Surakarta, Medan, Batam, and other cities.

Translator: Putri Millenia Hadinata (Tzu Chi Palembang)