The transformation of the Angke River is a powerful testament to what compassion and community can achieve. Faced with extreme flooding and pollution, Tzu Chi led an initiative to restore the river and relocate affected families to the Tzu Chi Great Love Village. The project not only improved the river's health but also empowered a community to rebuild and thrive. 

Project Background

Once known as the "black heart" of Jakarta, the Angke River had a grim history marked by pollution and tragedy. During the Dutch colonial era, a massacre led to many ethnic Chinese bodies being dumped into the river, turning its waters red—hence the name "Angke," meaning "red" in Hokkien. As Jakarta’s population surged and informal settlements expanded along the riverbanks, the Angke River became heavily polluted, with its width shrinking from 28 meters to just 3-5 meters. 

In January 2002, severe flooding highlighted the river's deteriorated state. In response, Tzu Chi Indonesia launched an initiative to transform the Angke River, aiming to turn it from a symbol of despair into one of love and hope. 

In 2002, Jakarta experienced severe flooding due to continuous rain from January 27 to February 1.

Mobilizing for Relief and Recovery 

In response to the severe flooding in Jakarta in 2002, Mr. Eka Tjipta Widjaja, the founder of Sinar Mas Group, saw the continued suffering of flood-affected residents and sought to provide more assistance. After consulting with Master Cheng Yen, he was encouraged to mobilize Indonesian entrepreneurs for disaster relief efforts. Master Cheng Yen also instructed Tzu Chi volunteers to implement the 5P Program—drying, cleaning, spraying, medical treatment, and housing construction—to aid the community. Mr. Widjaja, upon his return to Jakarta, initiated plans with Tzu Chi volunteers and enlisted Sugianto’s help to lead the clean-up and recovery efforts. 

Tzu Chi volunteers, together with local residents, conducted waste cleanup in the Angke River. This activity is one of the five components of the 5P Program (drying, cleaning, spraying, medical treatment, and housing construction).

Finding Land for Great Love Village 

The initial challenge was to secure a suitable plot of land for the housing project. Sugianto arranged a meeting with Jakarta's Governor, Sutiyoso, where a plan was proposed to build 1,000 horizontal housing units on a 15-hectare site. However, Sutiyoso pointed out the difficulty of finding such a large plot in Jakarta. 

Subsequently, it was decided to construct vertical apartment buildings instead. Tzu Chi requested the local government to provide a 5-hectare plot, with Tzu Chi covering all construction costs. Despite this reduction, finding appropriate land proved difficult due to issues like proximity to power lines and poor accessibility. Eventually, a 5.1-hectare plot was secured in the Bumi Citra Idaman area, Cengkareng, just 3 km from the residents' original homes, making it a suitable location for the project.

Stephen Huang (center), accompanied by Sugianto Kusuma (left), escorted the Governor of Jakarta (2002-2007), Sutiyoso (right), to see the progress of the construction of the Tzu Chi Great Love Village in Cengkareng, Jakarta.

Relocation Efforts and Fundraising for Great Love Village 

Initially, many residents living along the Angke River were hesitant to relocate. To persuade them, Tzu Chi emphasized the benefits of moving to a safer environment, which included better living conditions and essential facilities like a school and hospital. To ease the transition, Tzu Chi offered each relocating household a subsidy of 500,000 Indonesian rupiah (US$32) for temporary rental costs.  

For the construction of new housing units, known as Great Love Villages, Tzu Chi launched a fundraising campaign in Indonesia, with each unit costing 50 million Indonesian rupiah (US$3,160). Sugianto Kusuma, a new but dedicated Tzu Chi supporter, proposed that if the fundraising fell short, he and Franky Widjaja would cover the deficit.  

This led to the successful construction of the first Great Love Village in 2003, with a second following in 2005. 

On July 8, 2002, Tzu Chi held the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Tzu Chi Great Love Village in Cengkareng. 

Better environment for a better future

Now, 20 years have passed in the blink of an eye. In that seemingly brief time, the residents have successfully built a better new life, and the Tzu Chi Great Love Village has become a model for apartment complexes that focus on management and community empowerment.  

Tzu Chi Great Love Village celebrated its 20th anniversary on August 26, 2023. Residents took the stage during the celebration event to share the positive transformations in their lives after moving into the village. Their children were thriving. This reinforces the belief that every endeavor we undertake in Tzu Chi is destined to yield fruitful outcomes, because our actions are not for personal gain but for the well-being of society. 

Dagnas Al-Akhtur A. (left) grew up in Great Love Village I in Cengkareng and is now a police officer. His mother, Tutin Rahayu (right), is deeply grateful for the better life they’ve had since moving into the village.

The Tzu Chi Great Love Village, a community aiming to improve living conditions for those in need, has transformed into a thriving community. The success of this initiative demonstrates that meaningful change can be achieved through dedication and collective effort. The residents' stories demonstrate that actions driven by goodwill and compassion create lasting positive impacts for society, setting a benchmark for future developments.