For as long as he can remember, Topik Hidayat has known hardship. Growing up in a poor family in Indonesia, he began working at the age of eight to help support his parents and siblings.
As an adult, Topik became a part-time truck driver, but the unstable income made it difficult to provide for his wife and daughter. “There were times when we didn’t know if we’d have enough to get by,” he recalls.
Everything changed when he joined Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), the consortium behind the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail project, as a construction worker. The stable job not only provided a steady income but also opened new doors for his family.
“With my new job, I was able to save enough money to help my wife start her own small business,” Topik says with a proud smile. “It’s something she has always dreamed of.”
Their daughter also benefited from the project. Due to the construction, her primary school was relocated to a new campus equipped with modern facilities, including a field, a mosque, and a library. “The environment is much better for learning now,” says Topik.
For Topik and his family, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail project has been more than just an infrastructure development—it has been a catalyst for a better life. “This project didn’t just build a railway; it built hope for families like mine,” he reflects.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
