Resilience and Perseverance - Overcoming Obstacles as a Family

For Mr Dasar, the humble donut is much more than a piece of pastry. For him and his family, the donut is a lifeline, one that supports them and gives them hope. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Dasar and his family were left with a myriad of challenges, which lead to Mr Dasar losing his job.

However, instead of letting himself be a victim to his circumstance, Mr Dasar adapted, converting a room in his home into a donut-making business. By distributing the donuts to nearby shops for sale, they were able to make something from their difficult situation. Unfortunately, due to the weight of their financial burden, the eldest of their 3 children had to temporarily drop out of school. However, thanks to the support from the school, their child was able to resume their education.

In addition to their financial worry, Mr Dasar’s wife, Mrs Aprilia has been struggling with mental health issues, which get worse from time to time. However, despite all of these hardships and challenges they face, their unwavering resilience shines through, and Mr Dasar and his family find ways to overcome any obstacle they are faced with, all for the future of their children.

The turning point for Mr Dasar and his family came in August 2024, when partners and volunteers, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia and Habitat for Humanity Singapore partnered with the homeowners to transform their home, giving them a proper place to live and conduct their business.

When the home was handed over to the family, Mr Dasar expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the help given to him. “This opportunity has transformed our lives, and we are deeply thankful. We hope that their kindness will continue to inspire and uplift other families in need.” This house that was built together with the family was designed as a “growing house”, which gave the family the option to modify and expand the house according to their needs, supporting micro-enterprises.

Everyone deserves a decent place to live. The story of Mr Dasar and his family is one of sacrifice, challenges and resilience. With the construction of their new home, the family now has a proper place of business that supports their livelihood, and we are confident that they are ready to look to the future.