JAWA BARAT — Amid economic uncertainty, the empowerment program from Dompet Dhuafa continues to be a beacon of hope for those in need of work. One of these is the Bakso Bager Program, which has helped many individuals to rise from economic hardship. One of the beneficiaries is Mr. Wahyudin (52), a resident of Bogor who now has new hope in living his life.
Mr. Wahyudin is the head of a family with six children. One of his children has graduated and is working, while the other five are still in school. He has experienced the bittersweetness of life, from having a steady job to having to feel the bitterness of losing a source of income.
For six years, he worked as an employee in the hospitality sector. However, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the world seemed to stop spinning. His workplace carried out a massive reduction in staff, and Mr. Wahyudin was one of those who had to be willing to lose his job. At that moment, he felt as if the world had collapsed before him. With five children still in school, how could he survive? How could he ensure that his children would continue to receive a proper education?
He was unemployed for a whole year, looking for work here and there to no avail. His days were filled with hopes that continued to be dashed, while household needs continued to crush him unceasingly. Until finally, he got a job as a sofa-maker in a furniture company. He worked diligently for two years, hoping for a secure future. However, when his employment contract ended, he fell back into the abyss of uncertainty. He was unemployed again and could only work odd jobs while waiting for job offers from people around him.
“After that, I only did odd jobs. I would wait for someone to give me a job and then I would do it. Most of the time I would work as a construction laborer. It was usually the people around here,” said Wahyudin, recounting his life journey, Friday (21/02/2025).
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This uncertainty made him even more anxious, considering the very harsh necessities of life and the ongoing education of his children. Every night, he pondered the solution. Finally, a neighbor told him about the Bakso Bager Program from Dompet Dhuafa. With high hopes, Mr. Wahyudin signed up. He was so keen to register. After going through the selection process, he was declared a beneficiary.
“When I was really confused about what kind of work I should do, I didn’t know how to start a business and I didn’t have any capital, one of my neighbors gave me information about this program. Alhamdulillah, I was accepted and guided from scratch,” he said with tears in his eyes.
The Bakso Bager program not only provides business capital, but also mentoring and training for one year. The beneficiaries are taught various skills, ranging from meatball making, financial management, to marketing strategies. In addition, they are also formed into business groups of six people, with one person as the chairperson.
“The group mechanism helps in managing joint cash and motivating each other. Every two weeks, they hold meetings to share experiences and resolve business obstacles,” explained Ilham Taufiq Hidayatullah, PIC of the Bakso Bager Program at Dompet Dhuafa.
In addition, to make it easier for beneficiaries who are not yet familiar with the business, Dompet Dhuafa still supplies raw materials until they can be independent in procuring stock.
Now, Mr. Wahyudin and his wife run the meatball business every day. Their routine starts at dawn with shopping for ingredients at the market. After preparing the merchandise, they head to the point of sale near the neighborhood security post. This location is the most strategic point in the neighborhood because everyone there must pass through it when going in and out of the neighborhood. By dusk at the latest, he has packed up his merchandise and returned home.
“First thing in the morning I do the shopping, my wife prepares the ingredients. After the children leave for school, we start selling until the evening just before dusk,” he said.
For a month now, this meatball business has started to bear fruit. Although it is still in its early stages, Mr. Wahyudin has already felt the benefits. In a day, he usually manages to sell dozens of servings.
“It’s not much, but praise God, now I have an income. I can give the children pocket money, buy school books, and meet the needs of the kitchen,” he said gratefully.
The Bakso Bager Program is designed as a long-term program with one year of coaching. In addition to business capital and training, the plan for the future is to form a cooperative mechanism to make this business even stronger. Currently, the Bakso Bager Program has 30 beneficiaries and is gradually targeting 120 beneficiaries.
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However, for this program to continue running smoothly and truly have a significant impact on the beneficiaries, Dompet Dhuafa is hoping for support from various parties. The more people who support this program, the greater the opportunity for more people in need to rise from adversity.
“We hope for support from various parties, including individuals, communities, and institutions, so that this program can continue. With more and more support, Dompet Dhuafa will be able to improve the empowerment scheme and the number of beneficiaries. Thus, more families can feel the benefits of this program and finally achieve economic independence,” said a Dompet Dhuafa representative.
That great hope continues to grow. As the number of beneficiaries increases, the program not only helps individuals, but also uplifts the dignity of many families who have fallen on hard times. With helping hands, the Meatball Program can be a real step in building a brighter future for those in need. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika