Text and photos by Arimami Suryo Asmoro
Translated by Wu Hsiao-ting
The 30-year-old house, once damp and run-down, is now a bright, dignified home where residents finally feel proud to open their doors.
During a volunteer visit in February 2025, Sumi (second from right) stands inside her cramped, dimly lit, and poorly ventilated home—hardly a place fit for daily living.
For Sumi, 49, every raindrop once brought anxiety, and strong winds were just as frightening. She worried about her leaking roof and feared that the house might collapse. Today, thankfully, those fears are gone. Her new home is bright and solid—a place where she can finally throw open the doors to welcome relatives and friends.
For nearly 30 years, she lived in a ramshackle, 33-square-meter house in a narrow Jakarta alley. The entrance was little more than a meter high, forcing everyone to bow. Inside, the walls were cracked, natural light was scarce, and the air was stagnant. Lacking a bathroom, Sumi and her sons had to rely on public facilities.
The house was an inheritance she and her husband had once dreamed of fixing up. But when he passed away from asthma in 2020, that dream withered. Sumi provided for her family by folding paper at a printing factory, but renovation had become a distant hope.
That hope was rekindled when the family was selected for a government housing program, supported by partners including Tzu Chi. “Praise be to Allah!” Sumi said. “We struggle just to put food on the table. I’m so glad people are here to help our family have a place where we can sleep safely and live a healthier life.”
Renovation began in February 2025. While work was underway, Tzu Chi helped cover rent for the family.
Sumi’s eldest son, Haris, 29, had wanted to help his mother renovate the house, but with only a junior high education and working odd jobs, he felt powerless. He used to perform ondel-ondel (giant traditional puppets) on the streets of Tangerang and rarely came home. Now, he lives at home and helps relatives repair air conditioners while learning the trade.
Life wasn’t easy, but home had always been the most meaningful place for Haris and his brother, Alfian. “I was born and raised here,” Haris said, holding back tears. “No matter where I go, my goal is always to come back home.”
He recalled the tiny door that forced everyone to duck their heads. “It wasn’t just once or twice—we bumped our heads all the time. Our house felt like a snail’s shell,” he laughed. The old home was not just cramped but damp, often visited by scorpions and centipedes. “Now there aren’t even mice, and the air is cooler,” he added. “Before, we would sweat even with a fan running.”
“It’s hard to imagine how much this place has changed,” Sumi exclaimed. “Air flows freely, there’s no smell of mouse droppings, and the door is finally tall enough!”
During a recent visit, Tzu Chi volunteers found her relaxing on the clean, tiled floor. “The floor was just dirt before; you couldn’t lie down on it,” she said. “Now, it’s so comfortable.”
For 29 years, Sumi kept her front door shut. “Now, I can open it wide without feeling embarrassed,” she said. The renovation has also given her confidence to host guests, something she rarely did. “A few days ago, relatives came and even stayed overnight,” she beamed.
She sees the government’s program as a profound blessing. “This program is wonderful,” she said. “It lets people struggling in life finally experience what it feels like to live in a home that is secure, cozy, and welcoming!”
In their bright, clean new home, Sumi (left) and her sons finally have a comfortable space to rest and spend time together.
