SALATIGA — On Tuesday (23/5/2023) at 12.00PM local time, a university in Salatiga, Central Java, looked busy and filled with activities. Especially when the lunch break came, this was the moment that students looked forward to.
The atmosphere was so lively and crowded, the delicious aroma of soto and instant noodles wafting in the air, appetizing. Rows of tables and chairs were filled with students who were busy eating, laughing, and chatting.
There was also a 24-year-old man familiarly called Busro, serving customers at Kantin Kontainer Dompet Dhuafa (Dompet Dhuafa Container Canteen). He is an 8th semester student majoring in Islamic Education at Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Salatiga. Yes, Busro is the Coordinator as well as the Administrator of Kantin Kontainer Dompet Dhuafa.
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Born and raised in Purwodadi, Grobogan, Ahmad Busro Mustofa successfully runs and manages Kantin Kontainer Dompet Dhuafa, which is an empowerment program in the economic sector. This Container Canteen is an entrepreneurial scholarship program intended for underprivileged students. The way is to manage a canteen shaped as a container.
In the canteen that Busro manages, there are various food choices, ranging from traditional specialties to contemporary dishes. Arriving at Kantin Kontainer Dompet Dhuafa, you can see a long line filling the container. The students lined up patiently, choosing their favorite snacks and food. Until now, Busro and his three teams have 12 suppliers of food products from UIN Salatiga students.
Behind his expertise in managing Kantin Kontainer, Busro is just a farmer’s son who has determination and also a strong dream to be able to go to college. Both his parents work as corn field farmers in Purwodadi.
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Busro’s determination and enthusiasm to be able to get a proper education has been achieved. Through the Kantin Kontainer program, Busro admitted that he felt lucky because this really helped his study to run smoothly. Due to his family’s mediocre economic condition and inability to meet and finance his needs during college, he did various jobs to find additional income.
“I postponed studying for a year, because in my area it is rare for someone to go to college. I joined my father’s work, farmed, continued in projects, building porters, then I was determined to go to college, but at my own expense. It’s already settled like that at home. Even though at the beginning of migrating, I was confused about what to do,” explained Busro.
Furthermore, before making a match with Kantin Kontainer, Busro admitted that he had worked as an online taxi motorcycle rider. Until finally he got information about the recruitment of canteen managers, though to manage the Container Canteen and to become a benefit recipient, one had to go through various stages and selections.
“Then I continued to work as an online taxi motorcycle rider. A friend lent me an account, because if I didn’t work, I wouldn’t shop here. Then finally there was a recruitment of Kantin Kontainer, I signed up and we registered for our selection,” Busro added to Dompet Dhuafa.
That passion and determination finally managed to get Busro a scholarship, he managed to break through limitations. In addition, through Kantin Kontainer Dompet Dhuafa as a community empowerment institution, they request entrepreneurial skills for students.
“Since I want to be different, my parents once said that if a mother graduated from elementary school, a child graduated from junior high school, it means successful parents. If parents graduated from high school, their children could graduate from college, they are also successful parents. So I signed up for college to raise the status of my parents,” he explained.
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Busro explained that since the beginning of the semester, he has paid for his tuition fee on his own, thanks to the hard work he did as well as support from Dompet Dhuafa.
“I feel the impact, in terms of economy, it is very felt and very beneficial, because I personally focus the result of this on UKT. So, this is a historical place for my portfolio. All friends who graduated have taken pictures here since 2017,” he continued.
Having stopped operating for 2 years due to Covid-19, Busro together with three other people in his team managed to restore the glory of the Kantin Kontainer Dompet Dhuafa. Now, Kantin Kontainer is able to achieve a turnover of around Rp1,500,000 per day. Meanwhile, per week, the Kantin Kontainer is able to earn a turnover of Rp. 6,000,000 to Rp. 7,000,000. This income is able to pay off the payment of Busro and friends’ Tuition Fee (UKT).
The profits of the Kantin Kontainer are now used as canteen operations and the salaries of students who become managers. In addition, as much as 2.5 percent of canteen profits are paid as zakat through Dompet Dhuafa.
“The turnover per day is 2 million to 2.5 million, we usually cut 1 million to suppliers, it means the remaining is only 1.5 million. If per week, it means we get 6 million to 7 million of the turnover, not yet profit. If we save the net profit, sometimes we get 3 million per week, and the condition of students also influences it,” concluded Busro.
Dompet Dhuafa focuses on building the economic and social independence of the underprivileged community. As a community empowerment institution, Dompet Dhuafa has contributed significantly in improving welfare and providing better opportunities for those who are less fortunate. (Dompet Dhuafa/Anndini)