A Year of Using a Three-Wheeled Motorcycle from MoSA, Winarsih's Business Expands to a Wider Market

SLEMAN (11 January 2023) - It's almost 10 a.m. From her wheelchair, Winarsih (40), prepared several tools for selling purposes. She made sure she got the jars, ice flasks, and even small plastic cups into the three-wheeled motorcycle parked in front of her house. Nearby, her husband, Budi Santoso (37), was loyal to help.

In less than 15 minutes, the three-wheeled motorcycle had left the house, heading to the location where she usually hangs out in Godean area, Sleman, Yogyakarta. There, they took turns waiting for each other and served the ice kopyor buyers which they named 'Sumringah' (=happy).

They had been carrying out this routine for the past year since they received a three-wheeled motorcycle from Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). Winarsih admitted that a social companion from MoSA came to their house in Gamping, Sleman, a year ago in January 2022.

“A social companion came to my house. Since I have a running business, she asked whether I needed something. I want to hang out, I answered," said Win, her nickname, telling the story of how she was given the help of the three-wheeled motorcycle from MoSA.

Before getting the three-wheeled motorbike, Win and her husband had been running a business selling various types of their own processed products, from ice kopyor to various snacks, such as cireng, tofu, meatballs, and Tempe nuggets in front of the house.

“Previously, we sold in front of the house, not on Godean Street. Selling it in front of the house, the ice would only sell for 10 cups, or 15 for the maximum," said the mother of one child.

Apart from that, Win also sold various snacks online and provided deliveries outside the city. “There are many types (of food) available in catalogs. I haven't joined any online marketplaces, only by WhatsApp group and word of mouth. For the payment method, I choose Cash on Delivery (COD), or if the buyer comes from another city, I send it," Win explained.

She admitted the three-wheeled motorcycle was immediately delivered to her house in the same month. “It was fast (delivery), it didn't take a month. Sometimes, it takes a long time to process it, yet it was very fast," she said as she recalled.

They also used the three-wheeled motorcycle they got to continue the business they had previously started. They decided to look for a more strategic location to penetrate a wider market. Even, Budi occasionally sold the ice from the three-wheeled motorcycle when there were bazaars or certain events in Yogyakarta.

"Since selling at Godean, we can sell 50-60 cups of ice a day. Yet, it depends on the weather," she said.

Win and Budi also felt a significant difference in terms of ease of accessibility, especially for Win, and the improvement in consumers, after selling by three-wheeled motorcycle compared to selling in front of the house.

“When selling at home, we wouldn't get as many customers as if we sold the ice outside. So, with the three-wheeled motorbikes, we hang out outside, and we get additional customers," said Win.

For now, Win stated that she and her husband are still focusing on ice kopyor, for which they give a price of IDR 5,000/cup.

Empower Other Disabilities

Even though she had physical limitations, Winarsih's enthusiasm for meeting her family's needs could not be underestimated. This husband and wife’s income did not come from selling only. Win also had a sewing business which she started in 2008.

From her sewing business, Win had the opportunity to empower 9 friends with disabilities when it was booming in 2008. The various products produced were in the form of home products, such as pillowcases, sofas, bed sheets, refrigerator covers, and gallon lids. Her products have attracted the attention of customers from Sakura Country.

“Before I got married, I used to often take part in exhibitions. There, I met buyers from Japan. Then, a lot of orders came in. So, I'm overwhelmed doing it myself. Finally, many friends helped, there were several friends with disabilities, and there were 9 people," she said.

After getting married and pregnant, which required her to go on bed rest in 2013, orders began to decrease. Disabled friends whom she had empowered now had resigned and started independent sewing.

“After getting married and pregnant in 2013, the orders from Japan started to decline. Unfortunately, the type of Japanese person is straight. They need the orders to be done on time. Then, my friends couldn't handle it, and eventually, they switched. Because orders were running low, they finally started sewing themselves," she said.

Even so, she was happy because she had indirectly helped friends with disabilities open their business opportunities.

Meanwhile, two months after handing over the three-wheeled motorcycle, in March 2022, Win also received Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) from MoSA in the form of a sewing machine to support his sewing business.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs