Empowerment Amid Unusual Circumstances

KOMPAS/MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

Ajang (23) took food packages that were distributed in front of the Kozi Coffee 6.2 coffee shop, Jalan Veteran, Bandung City, West Java, Tuesday (6/7/2021).

"Alhamdulillah (thank God)". These words of gratitude were uttered by Ajang, 23, a seller of cuanki meatballs, when he received a box of free food on Jl. Veteran, Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday afternoon (6/7/2021). Ajang’s eyes gleamed but could not remove the tiredness on his face.

As usual, pushing a cart weighing 20 kilograms, his journey was not easy. That day, he had walked 5 kilometers from his rented house in Karees.

"During the pandemic, sales have been uncertain. I’ve only sold five bowls of meatballs today. Before, I would sell more than 10 bowls," Ajang said.

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Because of that, a box of food donated by Kozi Coffee 6.2, a coffee shop in Bandung, became an extraordinary gift for him. That day, Ajang did not need to set aside money for lunch.

"I can keep the money," he said.

Ramanda Audia Adam, 40, the owner of Kozi Coffee, said the pandemic had not been easy for some people. Many people had to take to the streets at the risks of being infected by COVID-19 and facing a lack of buyers, he said.

Through a box of rice, he hoped he could help lighten the burden of street traders. They can at least save their lunch money with the food donation.

"We\'ve been doing it since last Monday [June 28]. The number of packages we hand out varies. Today, we distributed more than 40 boxes,” Ramanda said.

Previously, Kozi Coffee, whose branches are spread across Bandung and Jakarta, offered a 10 percent discount to consumers who had been vaccinated.

The rice boxes, which contain fried chicken and vegetables, are part of the desire of Rama and his friend to share. Previously, Kozi Coffee, whose branches are spread across Bandung and Jakarta, offered a 10 percent discount to consumers who had been vaccinated.

Ramanda invited other culinary entrepreneurs to take part. They also donated food and vitamins to residents who were undergoing self-isolation. Among of those involved were owners of Imah Babaturan, Volks, Mimilu and Mai-cih Spicy Rice restaurants. A total of 28 dishes of food with a value of no more than Rp 70,000 (US$4.81) each were served to customers.

"We are still selling, but promoting the value of sharing," he said.

KOMPAS/MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

An online motorcycle taxi driver shows food being distributed in front of the Kozi Coffee Dipatiukur coffee shop on Jalan Dipati Ukur, Bandung City, West Java, Tuesday (6/7/2021).

Meanwhile, Mahesa El Gasani, 27), an artist, along with his colleagues at the Friends of Uncle Teebob Community, every weekend travels around city centers, such as Bandung City Square, Braga Street and Jl. Asia Afrika to distribute up to 500 food boxes each day.

"Although it is in the form of a rice box and simple side dishes, we try to help them," he said.

In addition to being on the streets, Mahesa and volunteers from his residential area in Ledeng village, Cidadap district, Bandung, also provided food to the needy. Many of them had lost their jobs and some others underwent self-isolation at home.

"Some have been laid off and had COVID-19 as well. We help with food to ease their burden," he said.

Information Technology

Faiz Ghifari, 26, from Surakarta, Central Java, played his part in helping the needy through his ability in the field of information technology and urundayacovid.com. The website, which was launched on Monday (5/7) contains 1,300 items of information guides for the public in dealing with COVID-19. Faiz said his website had been visited by more than 9,000 people since its launch.

The site visitors receive information related to the handling of COVID-19. Data on hospital hotlines, ambulances and health centers, contact numbers of oxygen shops, vaccination services and self-isolation sites are neatly arranged on the website. Visitors can also upload information so that it can be displayed on the website.

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Faiz was moved to create urundayacovid.com because he saw the public‘s growing need for various information related to COVID-19 such as those related to the supply of oxygen, vaccinations and blood plasma. On the other hand, the unreliable information regarding vaccination, medical treatment and ambulance contacts is scattered in the virtual world.

KOMPAS/MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

A number of students take food packages provided by the NHI Covid Help Desk In the foyer of the Ash-Shafir Mosque, the NHI Bandung Tourism College (STP) complex, on Tuesday (7/4/2020).

Padjadjaran University sociologist Ari Ganjar Herdiansah believes that these social activities were conducted by the people as response to the government\'s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic had not reached the public. On the other hand, as social beings, humans had the nature of altruism or prioritizing common interests over individuals, he said.

“This shows that social empathy in the community still exists. The community acts together to overcome existing problems," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought suffering to the people for more than a year. However, the epidemic is not strong enough to kill the solidarity of the citizens who want to help others amid these unusual circumstances.

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).