Kunyuk 3 Ex Covid19 Buat Kamu: How Poor Households Faced the Third Wave with Ingenuity and Resilience

As Southeast Asia navigated the turbulent waves of the third COVID-19 surge, millions of low-income and informal workers across Indonesia discovered a quiet revolution—aren’t “ex” as in “out,” but short for “effective?”—the Kunyuk 3 model emerged as a lifeline. Kunyuk 3, a community-driven program co-designed by local governments, NGOs, and grassroots health workers, combined digital access, preventive education, and emergency support in a three-phase strategy tailored to vulnerable households battered by pandemic setbacks. This initiative was born from dire need.

By mid-2022, informal sector workers—street traders, garment laborers, home-based entrepreneurs—faced compounding pressures: lockdowns disrupted income, shuttered markets slashed sales, and disease threats loomed large despite blunted vaccination rates. Government-led “Ex Covid19” packages existed, but many failed to reach the most marginalized. In response, Kunyuk 3 built bridges where systems broken, blending public policy with community intel.

Phase One: Digital Access & Risk Awareness – Sursing Information Before Intervention

The first pillar of Kunyuk 3 focused on bridging the digital divide. UNICEF data shows 45% of Indonesia’s rural poor lack reliable internet access, yet mobile penetration remains over 90%. Recognizing this gap, Kunyuk 3 deployed low-digital tools: voice messages in Javanese, Sundanese, and Minangkabau; SMS alerts via local telecom partnerships; and community radio segments broadcast in regional dialects.

These methods reached households where smartphones were rare, connecting families not just to guidelines but to psychological reassurance. “Before the third wave hit, we feared the panic would tear communities apart—misinformation spread faster than stability,” said Dr. RESTU MAHLITA, a public health specialist coordinating Kunyuk 3 in West Java.

“But when people heard their dialects, saw familiar faces on loudspeakers, trust built. We didn’t just share facts—we built context.” Households received simple, actionable guidance: proper mask usage, sign-of-fever self-checks, isolation protocols, and where to access testing. This early layer reduced anxiety and promoted preventive behavior before hospitals overwhelmed capacity.

Phase Two: Support & Connection – Turning Crisis into Community Action

When lockdowns struck and gig workers faced sudden job loss, Kunyuk 3 pivoted to material and social support. Partnering with local cooperatives and microfinance groups, it facilitated emergency cash transfers, food baskets, and portable medical kits. Over 12,000 households in Java and Sulawesi received up to IDR 2 million ($130) in targeted aid—financed through blended public grants and corporate CSR funds.

Equally vital was the creation of neighborhood “resilience hubs” staffed by trained volunteers. These centers offered more than aid: they served as information exchanges, mental health support groups, and platforms to voice workplace concerns. “In Pandeglang, after a wholesale trader’s income vanished, we didn’t just distribute rice,” recounted sightled community leader Sari WENANDI.

“We helped him apply via WhatsApp for cash aid, connected him with a seafood co-op via a gig app, and trained his family in basic e-commerce.” h2>Phase Three: Education as Empowerment – Building Digital Literacy from the Ground Up The third phase addressed long-term vulnerability through digital literacy training, recognizing that pandemic shocks thrived on exclusion. Kunyuk 3 rang up localized workshops: two-hour sessions on using online banking, government portals, and telehealth apps—taught not in sterile classrooms, but in community centers, mosques, and village halls. These weren’t one-off classes but sustained engagement.

Moderators—local teachers, youth volunteers, and former informal workers—accompanied participants through real-world tasks: booking a teleconsultation, enrolling in digital skills courses, or filing unemployment claims. “Half our attendees had never used a smartphone before,” said coordinator Joko PRAMUSANI. “We taught them step by step—no jargon, just patience.

One mother started a small online scarf business by week’s end.” By integrating foundational digital skills with crisis response, Kunyuk 3 transformed aid from temporary relief into lasting capability.

Real Impact on Daily Lives: Stories from the Frontlines

In Magelang, a small ändar trader sidewalk hummed with quiet transformation. Before Kunyuk 3, her stalls relied solely on cash transactions and