Mahija is committed to continue assisting waste workers, especially waste pickers, to gain access and recognition that supports the improvement of their quality of life.
The tangible form of this commitment is programs that focus on improving the living capacity of waste workers. One of them is the facilitation of making ID cards for waste pickers who do not yet have an official identity. Having an ID card is not only a symbol of recognition, but also opens access to various public services, social protection and health that they deserve.
From February to June 2025, Mahija has managed to collect data on scavengers who do not yet have legal identity documents ranging from 250 data for making KTPs, 84 for Family Cards (KK), 52 data for Adult Birth Certificates, 143 data for Child Birth Certificates, and 133 data for BPJS / KIS.
From this data, Mahija has worked with various parties, including the Department of Population and Civil Registration of DKI Jakarta Province, facilitating the issuance of 68 legal identity documents and will continue its commitment to the production of legal identity documents.
Wita Sumati, salah satu warga di Kampung Pemulung Pondok Labu menyampaikan di area tempat tinggalnya masih banyak warga yang belum memiliki KTP. Kebanyakan warga kampung pemulung ini merasa kesulitan karena kurangnya data pendukung, akses ke sarana pembuatan KTP, bahkan banyaknya warga berasal dari luar daerah yang ke Jakarta hanya untuk bekerja sehingga tidak ada dokumen yang lengkap untuk pembuatan KTP.
“Kami merasa terbantu sekali dengan tim Mahija yang mau bantu kami membuat KTP. Warga-warga disini dibantu mulai dari pencatatan data, kalau ada dokumen yang kurang juga bantu diurus sampai KTP nya jadi. Pernah waktu ada bantuan sosial, beberapa warga Kampung Pemulung Pondok Labu disini tidak bisa dapat, karena waktu itu belum punya KTP” ujar Wita.
Not only does Mahija help facilitate the procurement of ID cards for waste pickers, it also provides a scholarship program for the children of waste workers. This program aims to help them continue their formal education or go to a higher level of education, which is expected to create a positive impact on the surrounding community.
Di pertengahan pertama tahun 2025, Mahija mendistribusikan beasiswa kepada 65 anak di area Jakarta dan sekitarnya. Penerimaan beasiswa ini dipilih berdasarkan beberapa kriteria yaitu; anak dari keluarga berpenghasilan rendah, siswa aktif atau putus sekolah, dan siswa yang memiliki catatan presentasi akademik. Prioritas utama dari penerima manfaat ini merupakan anak karyawan dari para pekerja sampah, terutama pemulung.
Although the government currently has a free school program, garbage workers still face obstacles to meet the needs of their children and daily pocket money.
Sri Wahyuni, Ibu dari Syadan, anak penerima beasiswa menyampaikan kegembiraannya ketika menerima dana beasiswa dari Mahija, “Program ini sangat membantu saya. Setelah menerima program beasiswa kemarin, saya akhirnya bisa membelikan anak saya seragam, sepatu dan buku sekolah. Saya berharap Mahija semakin sukses dan program ini terus berjalan untuk membantu masyarakat seperti kami.”
In addition to helping waste pickers have legal identity documents and opening access to education for their families, Mahija will continue to advocate and make concrete efforts for the social protection and economic empowerment of waste workers because for Mahija, protecting the earth also includes respecting its people.