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| Mirna sat down in front of his huts |
MAMUJU, -- Early June, 2019. A heavy rain just fell down when I were in the waste's final destination area located in Botteng Village of Mamuju administrative. The surroundings were deeply silent due to no activity as scavengers usually did everyday.
From the distances where I stood, I saw a middle-aged women, anonymously Mirna, sat on the floor of her grubby huts which was approximately 4x5 meters in size. Then I walked slowly to get there. She seemed quite busy, sorting out plastic garbage that would be exchanged into money.
It was heartbreaking. In the moment we were greetings each other, she told that she have been working for years as a scavenger in that dirty place, converting plastic trash into money continually. Garbage is like a gold to sell, roughly $2.00 for 1 kg plastic waste, but not quite enough for life.
As we have known that standard living cost is roughly $5.00 in a day. It could be assumed it takes around $150 per month to live. Definitely Mirna's income is not enough. In comparison, the minimum wage for low skill workers have reached $10.0 per day.
Not only does Mirna, but also Alif who has similar condition. Alif was born in Enrekang. His circumstance was a little more tragic than others as he was a father of four children that have to be defrayed in school expenses. The oldest child was in six years old. "My children have to go to school, not to follow their father way," he said. Alif didn't have education degree so being a scavenger was the only work he must take.
From the distances where I stood, I saw a middle-aged women, anonymously Mirna, sat on the floor of her grubby huts which was approximately 4x5 meters in size. Then I walked slowly to get there. She seemed quite busy, sorting out plastic garbage that would be exchanged into money.
It was heartbreaking. In the moment we were greetings each other, she told that she have been working for years as a scavenger in that dirty place, converting plastic trash into money continually. Garbage is like a gold to sell, roughly $2.00 for 1 kg plastic waste, but not quite enough for life.
As we have known that standard living cost is roughly $5.00 in a day. It could be assumed it takes around $150 per month to live. Definitely Mirna's income is not enough. In comparison, the minimum wage for low skill workers have reached $10.0 per day.
Not only does Mirna, but also Alif who has similar condition. Alif was born in Enrekang. His circumstance was a little more tragic than others as he was a father of four children that have to be defrayed in school expenses. The oldest child was in six years old. "My children have to go to school, not to follow their father way," he said. Alif didn't have education degree so being a scavenger was the only work he must take.
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| (right) Alif received a package of basic needs |
A 39-year-old man's cottage was as vile as Mirna's huts. Constructed by frangible triplex walls without separation between the kitchen and the bedroom, all in one. On the other corner of the room hung up a few cooking equipment carelessly. "I live alone, my wife and children in Enrekang," he answered after being asked with whom he was living. As a father he frequently missed his wife and children.
Shortly after having a small talk and asking some question, the drizzle then subsided. But the dark clouds in the sky were still reluctant to move away. Both Alif and Mirna, there was a sense of emotion on his face when the rain was fallen repeatedly in the area because it looks like their huts would be flooded.
A precious experience to come up in this smelly place together with Berbagi Rasa community distributed twenty packages of basic needs. Targeting 20 households living in the location. The gifts were collected from communal donations for two weeks. As a conscious itself, somehow, there is one enquiry. Should we feel what they felt? I was writing about poverty so that it is fair to say we have to share all we have as a form of caring. "Thank you," said Alif when I took his photograph at the end of our talk. (tra/*)
Shortly after having a small talk and asking some question, the drizzle then subsided. But the dark clouds in the sky were still reluctant to move away. Both Alif and Mirna, there was a sense of emotion on his face when the rain was fallen repeatedly in the area because it looks like their huts would be flooded.
A precious experience to come up in this smelly place together with Berbagi Rasa community distributed twenty packages of basic needs. Targeting 20 households living in the location. The gifts were collected from communal donations for two weeks. As a conscious itself, somehow, there is one enquiry. Should we feel what they felt? I was writing about poverty so that it is fair to say we have to share all we have as a form of caring. "Thank you," said Alif when I took his photograph at the end of our talk. (tra/*)