TNI Builds Proper Housing for Quran Teacher in Rural Aceh
Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Army, through Korem 011/Lilawangsa, is building a proper house for a Quran teacher, Katratunida (28), in the remote village of Saweuk, Kuta Makmur District, North Aceh Regency.
Commander of Military Rayon 02 Kuta Makmur, Infantry Second Lieutenant Andriyanto, stated in North Aceh on Thursday that the total renovation into a permanent structure is targeted for completion within the next 20 days.
“We hope this new house will not only provide a safe dwelling for Mrs. Katratunida and her family but also serve as a representative place for her to continue teaching religious knowledge to her students,” said Second Lieutenant Andriyanto.
The house renovation initiative began when several TNI soldiers were surveying a bridge damaged by floods in the village, where a Garuda suspension bridge is now being built collaboratively by soldiers and residents. Commander of Korem 011/Lilawangsa, Brigadier General TNI Ali Imran, then saw and inspected the house in question, which sparked the intention to help build a home for the Quran teacher through the Uninhabitable Housing (RTLH) programme.
Currently, the demolition of the old house has begun, carried out cooperatively by soldiers from Military Rayon 02 Kuta Makmur, under the Kodim 0103/North Aceh, together with the local community.
For the past five years, Katratunida has been teaching dozens of children to read the Quran without charging any fees. However, behind her dedication, Katratunida, her husband Khodirun, and their two children had to live in a nearly decayed house with fragile walls and a leaky thatched roof.
“When it rains, the water comes straight in. My children would say, ‘Mum, our house is flooding.’ To calm them down, I had to comfort them and say, ‘It’s okay, let’s watch the waterfall inside,’” said Katratunida.
Every day, the cramped and dilapidated house served as a learning space for around 35 young students and coaching for 20 teenagers for religious competitions such as Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ). Due to space constraints, learning sessions often had to be divided into several waves or held at the village hall.
Katratunida never set a fee, only accepting voluntary donations from the students’ parents who were able to give. For her, the assistance of a proper house is a direct answer from Allah SWT to her prayers.
“We are very grateful for the concern of General Ali Imran for rural residents like us. May he always be granted health to lead Aceh towards a better future,” Katratunida concluded.