Mahija Supports Waste Workers to Realize Future Expectations

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, one of the residents in Pondok Labu Scavenger Village, said that in the area where she lives there are still many residents who do not have KTPs. Most residents of this scavenger village find it difficult due to the lack of supporting data, access to KTP making facilities, and even many residents come from outside the area who come to Jakarta only to work so that there are no complete documents for KTP making.

"We feel very helped by the Mahija team who wants to help us make KTPs. The residents here are assisted starting from recording data, if there are missing documents, they also help take care of it until the KTP is finished. Once when there was social assistance, some residents of Pondok Labu Scavenger Village here could not get it, because at that time they did not have KTPs, "said 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.

In the first half of 2025, Mahija distributed scholarships to 65 children in Jakarta and surrounding areas. The scholarship recipients were selected based on several criteria namely; children from low-income families, active students or dropouts, and students who have an academic presentation record. The main priority of the beneficiaries are children of waste workers, especially scavengers.

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, The mother of Syadan, a scholarship recipient expressed her excitement when she received the scholarship funds from Mahija, "This program really helps me. After receiving the scholarship program yesterday, I can finally buy my son a uniform, shoes and school books. I hope Mahija will be more successful and this program will continue to help people like us."

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.