Solidarity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Yogyakarta

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Residents welcomed medical workers who will start occupying the Center for Human Resources Development at the Yogyakarta Regional Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Baciro Village, Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta, on Thursday (16/4/2020). The reception was a form of community support for medical staff working hard to treat patients affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Enthusiasm among the people of Yogyakarta to work together when facing the Second Dutch Military Aggression in 1948 inspired the birth of National Solidarity Day. Now, the same enthusiasm can be seen again in Yogyakarta in facing the war against COVID-19.

With a deft hand, Eni Kusriati (46) put fried tempeh in a plastic bag. Nearby, dozens of boxes of rice were neatly arranged. One big pot of vegetable soup had just been cooked.

"Please add salt to the vegetable soup, ma\'am," Eni said to a neighbor who helped her in her kitchen in her home in Cepokojajar hamlet, Sitimulyo village, Piyungan district, Bantul in the Special Region of Yogyakarta on Wednesday (04/08/2020).

During the last two weeks, Eni\'s kitchen has been very busy with cooking activities since her house was turned into a public kitchen.

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Every day, Eni\'s kitchen produces 60 to 70 boxes of rice complete with side dishes and vegetables, which are wrapped separately.

"I am happy to be able to help neighbors who are in difficulty. However, my condition is limited. So, I can only contribute my energy," Eni said.

The public kitchen is a part of the social activities of the Jogja Food Solidarity (SPJ) movement initiated by a number of elements of civil society and students in Yogyakarta. The goal is to help informal workers and senior citizens affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused many people in Eni’s village to lose their jobs. They mostly comprise factory and construction workers.

The coordinator of SPJ, Syafiatudina, said that initially she, her mother and sister started a lunch-sharing movement. The goal was to help pedicab drivers and food sellers around their houses who have lost much of their income due to COVID-19.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

A number of residents organized relief packages from the Kompas Humanitarian Fund Foundation which will be distributed to students of Yogyakarta State University, on Friday (17/4/2020), at the UNY Auditorium, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region. On that occasion, the Kompas Humanitarian Fund Foundation distributed 600 food packages to UNY students who were economically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The same thing was done by a number of students. They worked together to open a public kitchen network. Now, the SPJ has opened public kitchens in 10 locations. Each kitchen produces 60 to 200 boxes of food a day. Funds are raised through social media. "Don\'t just think about yourself, but also think how you can help others," said Syafiatudina.

The SPJ is not alone. Another group called the Public Kitchen Movement has also regularly distributed lunch boxes to the needy since April 1. The volunteers consist of creative workers, artists, cultural activists and researchers.

The initiator of the movement, Ignasius Kendal, said the movement also distributed food packages, which consist of food needs for one week each. The packages are given to those who are vulnerable to being affected by the pandemic, including arts workers and marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities and transgender people. The movement raises the money to provide the aid from a network of young farmers in Yogyakarta and small-scale wholesale companies. The goal is that businesses that are affected by the pandemic can also be assisted.

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Kendal acknowledged that it was not difficult to ask fellow art activists and activists from different activities to take part in the movement. "This is the social capital owned by Yogyakarta. During a crisis, the spirit of mutual cooperation appears again. The desire to share is huge. We only help to distribute the aid," Katanta said.

Tailor Community

In addition to food, the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel has also triggered a number of small and medium enterprises in the sewing sector to lend a hand. One of them is the voluntary group "Majelis Mau Jahitan", which consists of tailors.

The APD coordinator of the group, Paksi Raras Alit (34), said he was moved when he saw medical staff working hard to deal with the disease without sufficient protective equipment. He and his wife, who own a wedding dress sewing business, also took the initiative to sew PPE in the form of coverall clothes. Fellow tailors responded positively to the initiative.

At least 14 small and medium sized clothing sewing companies in Yogyakarta have joined the movement. They raise funds from the public to finance their activities. Since the fundraising started two weeks ago, up to Rp 150 million has been raised from around 200 donors. So far the movement has distributed 1,376 coveralls.

This is unique in Yogyakarta. If they are told to work together, they immediately do it.

Paksi is grateful that many of his fellow tailors want to contribute despite the limitations. "This is unique in Yogyakarta. If they are told to work together, they immediately do it. Without asking anything about the cost. It seems that the people in Yogyakarta like to do things that are not paid," Paksi joked.

Wimpy Adhari, owner of the Starcross store, also helped make PPE at the warehouse of his company, which usually makes clothing. At least 100 PPE sets are produced in a week. So far, 300 PPE sets have been distributed to a number of hospitals.

Solidarity

Social solidarity blossomed in Yogyakarta a long time ago. A document titled “Guidelines of the Celebration of the 2014 National Social Solidarity Day” issued by the Social Affairs Minister indicates that to tackle social problems during the war of independence (1945-1949) in July 1949 the government held social counseling in Yogyakarta for community leaders as well as social guidance courses for social workers. They were expected to help the government to overcome social problems.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Drone spraying disinfectant in the Malioboro area, Yogyakarta City, on Friday (20/3/2020). Spraying disinfectant was done to minimize the risk of transmission of Covid-19 disease.

December 20 was declared as Social Solidarity Day, inspired by heroic events during the Second Dutch Military Aggression in Yogyakarta on Dec. 19, 1948. A day after the military aggression, the people of Yogyakarta worked hand in hand with the army to fight against the aggressors. All groups fought, helped, provided food and cared for soldiers.

A professor of anthropology at Gadjah Mada University, Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra, said the solidarity movement in Yogyakarta emerged because the sense of togetherness was so high. Solidarity and togetherness cannot be separated and it is believed that it will not die as long as the community still glorifies harmony in the neighborhood.

What is now happening in Yogyakarta during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven it.