Amid the Stench of Rubbish, Firda Ignites the Dreams of Scavengers' Children

BEKASI — Amid the rapid development of Bekasi City, there are still densely populated residential areas far from being habitable. Located not far from the Malang River, on the border of Bekasi and East Jakarta, this area seems overlooked. Precisely in RT 003/RW 008, Bintara Jaya Ward, Bekasi Barat Subdistrict, rows of simple homes stand closely packed together. Sacks filled with scrap metal pile up in front of residents’ houses, while a pungent smell is part of daily life. In this environment, mostly inhabited by scavengers and casual workers, some children spend their days aimlessly. Now, amid these limitations, a simple space called Sekolah Inspirasi Indonesia has emerged. The building is not much different from the surrounding houses—cramped and modest, containing only colourful plastic chairs and one blackboard. The school was born from the concern of a woman named Firda Budhiardjo (41). In 2017, while visiting her housekeeper’s home in the Bintara Jaya area, she saw many young children who had not yet been reached by education. “Initially, I wasn’t inviting the children to go to school, but I wanted the children here to at least be able to read and write,” said Firda when met by Kompas.com on Tuesday (5/5/2026). Although she lacks formal teaching qualifications, Firda, with a background in psychology, dared to start.