Dream from the Shantytown

Six thousand job seekers flock to Batam, practically every week. On this island, once a symbol of prosperity, they pursue dreams of a better future. Ironically, the dreams of these newcomers have become a nightmare for Batam’s authorities. Thousands of makeshift lodgings have emerged in the last decade, the shelters of many newcomers. From highways to protected forests, their numbers exceed the available official housing. Since the beginnin...