Habitat for Humanity Indonesia
| Contact information | HFH Indonesia
The Belezza Shopping Arcade, 2nd flr, Units 25, 27
Jl. Letjend Soepeno No. 34 – Arteri Permata Hijau
Jakarta Selatan 12210
Indonesia
Phone: +62 2129916074
Fax: +62 2129916164
E-mail: national@habitatindonesia.org
| | Web site | www.habitatindonesia.org
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Indonesia -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l 1
INDONESIA IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST archipelago with more than 17,000 islands of which 6,000 are inhabited. Although rich in natural resources, the world’s fourth most populous country grapples with poverty and a housing shortfall.
Over the past two decades, the country has experienced rapid urbanization and strong economic growth. However, the fruits of that growth are distributed unevenly. Recent World Bank data estimates that 17 per cent of the population lives below the national poverty line, or on the equivalent of less than US$1.50 a day.
The overall national poverty rate belies the large number of “near poor”, people who live just above the poverty line and are vulnerable to even minor adverse changes in their fortunes. Increasingly, poverty is concentrated among rural households which also have less adequate access to water and sanitation facilities.
The drift to towns and cities is continuing apace. Half of the country’s population are urban dwellers with this expected to grow to 68 per cent by 2025, according to United Nations’ data. The majority of the population lives on the island of Java which only occupies 7 percent of the country’s total land area.
In 2008, the Ministry of Housing estimated that the country needed 8.1 million housing units, mainly in urban areas. The commercial market is projected to supply less than one-fifth of current and future demand. The shortfall will have to be met by government, community-based organizations, and local and international nongovernment organizations. To eliminate the backlog by 2020, up to one new million houses are needed annually.
Given the scale of the challenge, any serious effort to address housing requires major changes in policies, and organizational structure governing the delivery of shelter.
Complicating any response is Indonesia’s geography. Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of seismic and volcanic activity, the country is affected by frequent natural disasters. In October 2010, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami which struck the Mentawai islands, off the coast of Sumatra. At the same time, the 3,000-m. high Mount Merapi in central Java started the first of a series of eruptions that have caused more than 400 deaths and displaced tens of thousands of people. Two major earthquakes struck West Sumatra and West Java in September 2009. The most devastating disaster occurred in December 2004 when the Indian Ocean tsunami swept away countless lives and property in the northern province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam at the northern end of Sumatra island.
Over the years Habitat for Humanity Indonesia has responded to many of these disasters even while operating regular programs. Habitat began operating in Indonesia in 1997 and currently works in 13 provinces. Its largest program was rebuilding after the tsunami: as of December 2009, more than 5,900 families in Aceh had benefited from Habitat interventions.
HFH Indonesia’s post-tsunami reconstruction program paved the way for the establishment of a permanent presence in the area: a resource center in Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra. HFH Indonesia aims to serve 4,000 families annually in programs spanning Medan, West Sumatra, Riau Islands and Aceh. The resource center broadens the reach of Habitat’s programs by providing construction services, programs and partnerships in housing microfinance, disaster mitigation, water and sanitation, and broader community impact.
Habitat uses “Building in Stages” and “Save & Build” concepts. The former enables homeowners to start with building a basic “core” house which can be extended later depending on the families’ means and resources. The core home normally measures 21 sq. m. The “Save & Build” housing microfinance model enables home partners to have their own house more quickly as they benefit from the combined financial strength of the savings group. It also establishes a savings culture in a community. The average monthly repayment under either concept is approximately US$20.
Habitat houses have cement slab foundation and are made from concrete blocks and plywood with wood frames and clay tiles for roofs. It takes between 14 and 21 days to build a house.
HFH Indonesia joins hands with like-minded partners such as international and local non-government organizations, microfinance institutions, cooperatives and faith-based organizations. Corporations, foundations, UN organizations and the local government also lend support.
In 2010, HFH Indonesia hosted builds for 2,800 local volunteers and another 3,500 international volunteers. Due to its proximity to Singapore, HFH Indonesia’s affiliate on Batam island hosts a constant stream of volunteers from the republic who take part in builds over a weekend.
HABITAT HIGHLIGHTS
• In May 2009, HFH Indonesia launched the second phase of a tie up with US-headquartered donut chain Krispy Kreme. Customers at Krispy Kreme outlets in the capital Jakarta could buy Community Cards at 30,000 rupiah (US$2.90) each, with the sale proceeds of the cards going to HFH Indonesia. In the first year of the launch of the Community Card, HFH Indonesia received over 135 million rupiah (US$14,660).
• Indonesian health food company Kalbe Nutritionals sent about 100 staff on a one-day build with HFH Indonesia in February 2009. Staff helped to build or renovate five houses in Neglasari village, Banjaran subdistrict, South Bandung.
• In August 2008, General Motors Autoworld Indonesia announced that it would donate one million rupiah to HFH Indonesia for every Chevrolet car sold daily during one month. The drive raised 110 million rupiah (US$11,950).
COUNTRY FACTS
Population: 242,968,342 (July 2010 est.)
Capital: Jakarta
Area: 1,919,440 sq. km.
Ethnic groups: Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, Banjar 1.7%, others or unspecified 29.9% (2000 census)
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (the most widely spoken of which is Javanese).
Religions: Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, others or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)
Literacy: 90.4% (2004 est)
Urbanization: 52% (2008)
Population Living on US$1.25 a Day: 29% (2009)
Access to Improved Water Source: 80% (2009)
Access to Improved Sanitation Facilities: 52% (2009)
Sources: CIA World Factbook, World Bank
Updated January 2011