Minister of Social Affairs Risma Involves the Community in Making Knock-Down Houses in Papua

JAYAPURA (August 27, 2024) – Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini assigned the Special Advisor to the Minister of Social Affairs for Communication and Mass Media, Don Rozano to hold training on making knock-down houses in Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province on Monday (26/8). The training attended by 50 people, took place at one of Ministry of Social Affairs' work units, namely the Jayapura Center for Social Welfare Education and Training.

The training lasted four days by provided basic knowledge and skills in building knock-down houses. The training participants were residents of Pegunungan Bintang who previously lived in uninhabitable houses. They were given knock-down house assistance after going through a series of assessments. The construction of knock-down houses was chosen because if building a conventional house, the construction process is long, and the raw materials are difficult and expensive.

The knock-down houses provided have an area of ​​6 meters x 6 meters, made of lightweight steel material. The assembly process is relatively fast but remains strong.  The house consists of 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It is designed to be easily dismantled and reassembled and can be moved. "As many as 50 houses can be built in 7 days with mutual cooperation," explained Don Rozano, while saying that later the recipients of the knock-down house assistance will also participate in building a school there that was previously damaged.

Some recipients of the house assistance have carpentry skills, but some do not have those skills, one of whom is Barnabas Kakyarmabin (31) who comes from Okaom District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency. Even so, Barnabas was very enthusiastic about participating in the training.

"I don't have carpentry skills. But I also want to know how to assemble an iron house (knock-down house) so I can build it in the village," said Barnabas, while saying that this is the first time Pegunungan Bintang Regency has received housing assistance. "Minister of Social Affairs, thank you very much so that we can have an iron house, later we can practice, we can build and stay in it," continued Barnabas. He hopes to be able to build, own, and stay in the knockdown house assisted by Ministry of Social Affairs.