VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

Village community development is a high priority for Harapan Baru. By constructing ecobrick buildings, villages gain a central location from which various activities can be arranged.

An ecobrick building is a structure with walls made from building blocks composed of plastic waste-filled PET bottles. These bottles are filled by residents with litter they collect themselves. These ecobrick buildings can house, for example, a library, provide space for medical assistance, and host courses and meetings. The enclosed area offers a safe place for children to play and for young people to engage in sports. A garden can also be established where vegetables are grown.

To involve young people more in village activities (in Indonesian culture their elders are typically the ones who are heard!), Harapan Baru challenges young people to come up with good plans. After all, they are the future of the village! If the plan is well-founded and leads to greater self-sufficiency, Harapan Baru will invest time and energy in guiding these youngsters.