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Habitat for Humanity Completes 160 Houses In Earthquake-affected Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Volunteers from Jakarta International Korean School work together on a steel frame.

A total of 160 houses have been completed in Yogyakarta since a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Java in late May 2006. The houses have been built in the villages of Sribit, Kelegen and Kralas in the Bantul district, south of the capital Yogyakarta. More than 6,000 people died in the earthquake with over half of the deaths occurring in Bantul. The earthquake also damaged 135,000 houses and left an estimated 1.5 million people homeless.

The homes being built in Bantul are initial core houses with reinforced concrete structural frames. Walls made of bricks and wood are lighter than all-brick walls and allow for easier modification if our home-partners wish to extend the core house at a later date. Habitat for Humanity aims to construct a minimum of 1,000 core homes in Indonesia over the coming year.

Volunteer teams have been invaluable in boosting reconstruction efforts. Volunteers have included local people, staff from private companies and students from an international school. Tasks completed by the volunteers included clearing debris, digging foundations and grading sand.

A total of 20 students from the Surabaya International School worked alongside the homeowners. One student, Melyana, describes the experience: "Today we had worked very hard but I'm very happy now. Because we did not just work for ourselves, but for other people. That's something we can be proud of."

While it has been a positive experience for the volunteers, the community has also benefited from some much-needed cheer. Celebrating Independence Day in Indonesia has always been a communal tradition. This year, even though the Kelegen village was shaken by the earthquake, the villagers' spirits were not crushed.

To mark the occasion, volunteers from Habitat for Humanity Yogyakarta organised games for the villagers. A Kelegen villager, Budiman, said: "There is not much entertainment here since the earthquake. (The games) can relieve our burden for a while and lift our spirits."