Inmates' service and hope in Warungkiara

What grows in Warungkiara is not just vegetables, fruits, or livestock products, but also skills, self-confidence, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to improve their lives.

In early June, a spirit of transformation akin to the legend of Sangkuriang, who built a giant boat in a single night, was present at the Class IIA Correctional Facility in Warungkiara, Sukabumi Regency, West Java. The difference is that what was built was not a boat, but hope for five families through a community service programme to renovate houses and a place of worship.

If Sangkuriang built a boat to fulfil Dayang Sumbi’s request, the inmates of Warungkiara Prison rebuilt residents’ homes as a form of service to the state and society. Through their hands, houses that were previously unfit for habitation were transformed into safe and comfortable dwellings.

In about two weeks, five houses, originally constructed from a mix of brick and woven bamboo and lacking bathrooms, were converted into proper homes. Each house now has an indoor bathroom, two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. The speed of construction was made possible by using precast concrete panel technology for a Healthy, Safe, and Instant Home (Risham). While a conventional house foundation typically takes 15 to 20 days to complete, this technology allowed the foundation to be finished in just around 15 hours. Thanks to this system, the five houses were ready for occupancy within a fortnight.

Interestingly, the Risham concrete panels were also produced by inmates. The product was manufactured in the workshop of the Class I Prison in Tangerang under the Jawara Beton unit. These five houses in Warungkiara are not the first buildings to utilise the product. Previously, Jawara Beton concrete panels were used to build houses for civil servants in the West Cikarang and Central Cikarang areas.

The inmates’ contribution did not stop at the physical construction of the houses. Furniture such as wardrobes and guest chairs filling the homes were also the work of inmates from Kotabumi Prison in Lampung.

All of this assistance was provided free of charge to residents through a correctional community service programme officially inaugurated by the Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto, on Wednesday (10/6). Around 10 inmates were involved in the house renovation process. They worked side by side with residents and builders, collaborating to rebuild dilapidated houses. The activity also served as a learning space for them to adapt to society and hone their construction skills as part of the rehabilitation programme they are undergoing.

For Uci (59), one of the aid recipients, the presence of the inmates did not cause any concern whatsoever. On the contrary, she felt greatly helped seeing her house rebuilt with neat workmanship. ‘I actually thank them, because thanks to them I now have a decent house,’ said Uci when met at the inauguration of the house renovation programme in Warungkiara.