1,904 People with Disabilities Achieve Success, Thanks to Vocational PENA

JAKARTA (May 9, 2024) - The Nusantara Economic Heroes (PENA) program promoted by the Ministry of Social Affairs is an effort to empower underprivileged people, regardless of age, gender, and physical condition. For example, in 2024, the Ministry of Social Affairs successfully graduated 1,904 people with disabilities from the social assistance program through the PENA Vocational program. Persons with disabilities attend various kinds of courses and training at the Ministry of Social Affairs centers so that they can develop themselves and be empowered.

"PENA Vocational is in our centers. We train people with disabilities, like hearing disabilities and so on. We help them to get access to employment. In this month, there are 328 people. In 2024, about 1,904 people with disabilities have left social assistance recipients," said Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini at the Graduation of Nusantara Economic Heroes Beneficiaries Period April 2024 at the Ministry of Social Affairs Office on Wednesday (8/4).

The Ministry of Social Affairs through centers and integrated centers throughout Indonesia always strives to empower people, including people with disabilities. For example, at the Inten Soeweno Integrated Center, various kinds of training such as sewing, graphic design, automotive, electrical, contact center, etc. 

Not only training, the Ministry of Social Affairs also helps people with disabilities apply the knowledge they have gained so that they can be well independent by providing capital assistance to open a business. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs collaborates with various parties who can hire them as employees.

BCA Bank is one of the companies that welcomes training graduates from the Ministry of Social Affairs. For example, Halo BCA employs people with disabilities as call centers at the company. For this collaboration, Minister of Social Affairs Risma also gave an award to Bank BCA at the PENA Graduation Ceremony for the April 2024 Period.

Executive Vice President of BCA's Center of Digital Wani Sabu even appreciated the Ministry of Social Affairs for the training provided for people with disabilities who currently work at the company. "We are very grateful for this collaboration because the graduates (of the Ministry of Social Affairs training) are very ready to use and to work," said Wani