Remarks by National Director
Habitat for Humanity Indonesia
#SahabatHabitat
May is a special month because in this month, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia turns 25 years old. I am grateful to God Almighty, Habitat Indonesia still exists to serve the community throughout its journey. I’d like to say Happy birthday to the entire extended family of Habitat Indonesia, starting from the staff, board, donors, volunteers, and all Habitaters wherever they are.
Habitat Indonesia’s birthday celebration this year is filled with various build activities, which are the ‘DNA’ of Habitat for Humanity around the world. It started with the Employees Build event, where all National Office staff, as well as Project Site Offices throughout Greater Jakarta worked hand in hand to paint people’s houses in Bojong Koneng, Sentul-Bogor, on 13 May 2022. Activities with the theme “Awake! Together We Build Indonesia” invites everyone to rise from adversity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, to rebuild Indonesia, to do good for others in need.
I am very impressed with this “Employee Build”. There, me and all the staff went to the field, became volunteers who passionately worked together to beautify and paint people’s houses. We are so happy to be able to do something good for others, after two years of ‘volunteering’ activities like this being restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
I was touched, when it turned out that the house I painted was the house that I also volunteered to build but with the Thunder Bird community back in 2019. The house is still standing strong, only the paint has faded with age. In between the activities, I still had time to chat with the home partner’s children, and I felt so proud to be a part of their life-changing experience.
I hope for the upcoming build activities such as Donors Build, CEO Build, Media Build, and others can be held as a series of activities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Habitat Indonesia, which can involve students, youth, professionals, donors, communities, even the wider community to join in and do good for people in need in order to build a more prosperous Indonesia.
Happy birthday Habitat Indonesia. With the coming years, our spirit grows to light up Indonesia.
Sincerely Yours,
Susanto
National Director
Habitat for Humanity Indonesia