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Nineteen: The Lives of Jakarta's Street Vendors
Nineteen: The Lives of Jakarta's Street Vendors
In Jakarta, Indonesia's largest city, four million people — about 40 percent of all workers there — labor in the vast "informal economy." Street vendors, hawking anything from food to medicine, dominate the urban landscape even as they scrape by to provide for their families. Here are five of their stories.
Josh Estey for Mercy Corps

Special Report: 
Nineteen: The Lives of Jakarta's Street Vendors

The hardcover printed companion to these videos is available through Powell's Books. This book tells and illustrates the stories of nineteen street vendors trying to make it in one of the world's biggest cities.

Video: Nineteen: Cahyan, Tofu Snack Seller ›

Topics: Urban, Economic Development

Cahyan, 45, sells a tofu specialty called tahu gejrot from a food stall in Jakarta's affluent Menteng neighborhood.

Video: Nineteen: Eni, Jamu Seller ›

Topics: Urban, Economic Development

Eni, 31, sells a traditional herbal medicine called jamu from a basket that she carries around the dockyards and fish markets of North Jakarta.

Video: Nineteen: Hasanuddin, Water Seller ›

Topics: Water/Sanitation, Urban, Marginalized Groups, Economic Development

Hasanuddin, 44, operates a small food stall and sells water in an illegal settlement under a toll road in Jakarta.

Video: Nineteen: Hepi, Soto Ayam Soup Seller ›

Topics: Urban, Economic Development

Hepi, 47, sells chicken soup every day on Platform 3 at Central Jakarta's Kota Train Station.

Video: Nineteen: Sriyusiati, Soto Betawi Soup Seller ›

Topics: Urban, Marginalized Groups, Economic Development

Sriyusiati, 49, operates a food stall in South Jakarta, selling coconut rice, beef soup and other traditional dishes to office workers.

Indonesia Facts

  • Population (2008): 238 million
  • Size: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
  • Human Development Index rank: 109 (out of 179)
  • Mercy Corps has worked here since 1999
  • Primary work: Financial services for poor families, access to clean water, nutrition programs for schoolchildren, breastfeeding awareness and support, and recovery programs for tsunami survivors
  • Comprising 17,508 islands, it is the world's largest archipelagic state
  • World's fourth most-populous country
  • World's largest Muslim-majority country

Staff Contact

Roger Burks
Senior Writer
Send an email to Roger Burks ›

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