Form of Empowered, KPM PKH Teaches Eco Print Fabric Making

NORTH LOMBOK (August 25, 2020) - To achieve the independent prosperous graduation target, the Social Assistance for the Family Hope Program (PKH) of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) in North Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), has a precise method. Through the Family Capacity Building Meeting (P2K2), Beneficiary Families (KPM) are empowered by training in Eco Print Fabric Making.

"About 20 (twenty) KPM PKH received training on making Eco Print fabrics from PKH Facilitators," said PKH Coordinator for North Lombok Regency, Raden Zulkarnain, Saturday afternoon (15/8).

According to the man who is often called Zul, the aim of the assistant is to provide this skill training, as an effort to increase the family's ability to be more productive in the present. “The Eco Print business is very prospective for improving the economy of underprivileged families. Skilled in creativity, KPM can gain the number of independent prosperous graduates in local villages," he added.

Raden admits that he believes that if KPM is skilled, then they can get used to building their own business in the long term, and can even prosper independently.

This empowerment, he said, was initiated by the local Social Assistant, Baiq Westi, who is known to be very patient in directing the KPM he assists. Furthermore, in group meetings which are held at least once a month, motivations related to self-development for KPM are often conveyed so that it spurs their enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, training tools and materials have been prepared to be practiced on site. "Eco Print batik cloth training uses improvised materials such as teak leaves and castor leaves," explained this Central Lombok PMII cadre.

The results of the cloth craft are targeted at women as the target market. "The results of this Eco Print fabric are usually for hijabs and the needs of women," said Zul.

He added that apart from Eco Print skills, other assistants also do other work, namely guarding the Kebaloan Farmers Group. The business group assisted by the PKH Facilitator in Sesait Village, Kayangan Sub-district, Saofi Fatonah, is currently developing the agricultural potential in the vicinity which is developed in the form of hydroponics.

While reviewing the economic conditions in North Lombok after the 2018 earthquake, Zul continued to encourage the spirit of the PKH HR carriages under his control. "The implementation of P2K2 is the most important part of this program, the program instrument to realize the social and economic sustainability of KPM PKH," concluded the man who was born in 1983.