A Punk Boy Successfully becomes ‘Bubble Drink’ entrepreneur

A boy named Arya Maulana Hidayat (17), PM of Handayani Center who has lived in Sentra for more than a year. Arya is currently opening a bubble topping beverage business which is quite popular, with a profit of Rp100.000 per day. Arya tells the story of her past before starting the bubble drink business. Since elementary school (SD) Arya has lived on the road to being a punk boy.

"I used to be a punk boy, a street kid. I live on the streets because of a broken home, family problems. I live with my grandmother since I was born, not with my parents. My grandfather has died, so my grandmother is alone, she has to take care of my sister too,” said Arya.

This situation made Arya want to get out of the house. He thought that the way he chose would not bother his divorced parents and grandmother who took care of him. However, he did it in a bad way by taking to the streets with his friends and losing contact with his family.

“I went to various areas such as Bandung and Surabaya. I ride in big trucks on the road. To support myself, I sing and sleep anywhere,” he added.

The result of his singing is used to get drunk with his friends. For four years he lived that way. However, his life is moved for the better when he meets a companion from the Handayani center. Arya begins want to change and make her family happy, so he joins the companion to the Handayani center.

“Look at the past, it makes me move to change for the better. So I accompanied the assistant to the Handayani center. The beginning of adaptation is not easy, because I usually on the streets without rules," said Arya.

Various rules are applied by the Ministry of Social Affairs so that the beneficiaries are more disciplined, so that they can adapt in society later. Various activities starting from waking up have been arranged, such as worship, breakfast and getting ready to take skill classes.

Through various skills activities carried out, the Handayani center also provides other support by considering the potential of PM such as entrepreneur skills. "We support the potential of PMs like Arya, because he has a willing to change," explained the former Head of Handayani Center, Sulistya Ariadhi.

Social workers and psychologists as part of the companion human resources at the center will carry out a comprehensive assessment first as the initial rehabilitation process. The results of the assessment become a benchmark whether PM should be brought to the center or not. These results are also used as a determinant of the length of the rehabilitation process to be carried out.

Besides automotive, painting and reading Al-Qur’an, some advices are regularly given to PM to make Arya's awareness of the importance of family continue to grow. After PM returns with his family, the Handayani center will continue to monitor his progress to make sure he doesn't return to his past. "I hope that Arya can continue to do it better, prioritize his family and keep her business running," hoped the Head of the Handayani Center.

“There are a lot of activities here, one of which I take part in skills class and culinary management. It's so different on the street. So I thought that, what I was doing on the road yesterday. Why can't I just be like this, living in a society is good too," said Arya.

Through that class, Arya pioneered the boba-topped drink, which he has been living for more than six months. "Initially, I just made variants of palm sugar and chocolate coffee. Only two, and it continued to grow. Until finally there was a mango flavor. Apart from the companion, I also know the recipes for this beverage business from social media. I hope my business will grow, and in the future I will sell it online," he explained.

Public Relation Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs