EAST JAVA — Dompet Dhuafa East Java together with Institut Kemandirian (IK) successfully held a three-month Sewing Training Programme at Bumi Maringi Peni, Pujon, Malang. Afterwards, Dompet Dhuafa held an activity entitled Goes to Public as the culmination of the training, on Tuesday (19/11/2024). This activity is not only a place to demonstrate the skills of the trainees, but also provides free services and cheap bazaars for the surrounding community.
This training presents a variety of interesting activities. The community can take advantage of free services such as clothing alterations, button replacements, and fashion consultations with experts. In addition, the cheap bazaar was also an attraction of this activity. Various products made by the trainees were displayed and sold at affordable prices. These included shirts, pants, skirts, tunics, shirts, blouses (batik), and gamis.
The products on display are the fruits of three months of learning in a sewing training organised by Dompet Dhuafa East Java and the Institute of Independence. The training successfully equipped the participants with technical sewing skills, both through theory and intensive practice, which is expected to increase their opportunities in the business world.
‘We want to provide wider benefits, not only for the trainees, but also the surrounding community. We appreciate the hard work of the participants and encourage them to be more confident in stepping into the professional world,’ said Mochammad Rizzqi Aladib, Branch Manager of Dompet Dhuafa East Java.
For information, based on data from the East Java Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in May 2024, the Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) in February 2024 was 3.74 per cent, down 0.59 percentage points compared to February 2023. Vocational High School (SMK) graduates have the highest TPT in East Java, at 6.42 per cent followed by Senior High School (SMA) graduates who have a TPT of 4.64 per cent.
Dompet Dhuafa East Java and the Institute of Independence are optimistic that the Sewing Training Programme can have a real impact on improving the quality of life of participants and reducing the unemployment rate in East Java. In the future, they hope to expand the reach of community empowerment programmes with strategic collaborations.
‘The sewing training is clear evidence that practical skills can be the key to opening new business opportunities, improving the family economy, and ultimately, helping to create a more self-reliant society,’ said Tirta Rahayu, Development Programme Supervisor at Institut Kemandirian.
She believes that with the Goes to Public event, after three months of training the participants can create sustainable economic opportunities and make a real contribution to community empowerment. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: GREAT Edunesia, Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika