Since its founding in 1991, Yayasan Pondok Kasih (YPK) has brought hope and support to Indonesia’s poor and marginalized. It started when Mama Hana, YPK’s founder, helped a beggar woman outside her church. Feeling called by God to care for those in need, she prayed to love like God and assist others.

YPK began small, opening a home for elderly women, neglected children, and those at risk of abortion. During the 1996 national crisis, YPK quickly provided relief, education, healthcare, and community programs.

By 1999, international groups recognized YPK’s unconditional help for the poor. Aid shipments arrived through organizations like the Indonesia Relief Fund (IRF), supporting communities during crises, conflicts, and disasters, regardless of background.

In 2003, YPK gained recognition from governments, businesses, media, and academics. Mama Hana and YPK received awards like the Satya Lancana Award (2004), an Aceh Tsunami relief honor (2005), and the Dharma Karya Kencana Award (2006).

Realizing poverty needs more than basic aid, YPK helped the poor get identity cards to access government services like education, healthcare, and jobs.

In 2001, YPK began organizing mass interfaith weddings to provide marriage and birth certificates, starting in Surabaya and expanding nationwide. In 2011, YPK held a massive event in Jakarta for 4,541 couples, earning national and global recognition. Since then, YPK has conducted weddings in 18 provinces, issuing thousands of certificates.

YPK has won many awards, including the Global Business and Interfaith Peace Award (2015) and the CNN Heroes Award (2017), for its impactful work.

To achieve its mission, YPK partners with families, religious groups, governments, businesses, academics, media, and cultural leaders to serve disadvantaged communities and promote justice for all Indonesians.

Through its efforts, YPK bridges divides, fostering unity and reducing conflict among diverse groups.