Indonesian Students Raised Over US$1,700 For Habitat For Humanity Indonesia
They also contributed to construction of a house in a community near Jakarta
Spirit of giving: Bina Bangsa students forming a human chain to transfer construction materials to a build site in a Jakarta community
JAKARTA, 28th April 2006: Indonesian students from Bina Bangsa School in Jakarta showed that they have a heart for the poor when they raised 15 million rupiah (about US1,712) and helped in the construction of a house which was recently completed.
The Bina Bangsa School has adopted a Habitat for Humanity Indonesia project as one of the core activities for its students. The school intends to help HFH Indonesia build a house every year. Last year, Bina Bangsa School raised 11 million rupiah and 35 of its students, together with two teachers, also volunteered on a build.
This year’s project involves fund-raising for the construction of one house in Kosambi village in Tangerang, about 20 km. west of the capital Jakarta. From December 2005 to February 2006, the 600 Bina Bangsa students, aged 10 to 12, raised the money by doing various household chores such as dishwashing, giving their parents a massage or by selling their clothes during a school bazaar.
On 11th March, more than 50 Bina Bangsa students, along with three teachers, also helped in the construction of the house in Kosambi. Among other things, the students and teachers dug a foundation for the house and transferred construction materials to the build site by forming a human chain.
Construction of the 30 sq. m. house was then taken over by Habitat homepartners and skilled volunteers from the community. Completed recently, the house has a cement floor, tiled roof and concrete brick walls. It comprises two rooms, a kitchen and a toilet.
For 28-year-old Hamonangan Manullang, his wife Sofianti and child Nursaulina, the Bina Bangsa School’s generosity has helped to realize their dream of a new house. And for the students who helped Hamonangan, the project embodies what the school philosophy says about humility: “Above all, I know I am valuable when I serve others.”