SIGI (5 February 2021) – It is difficult for persons with intellectual disabilities to get a job, and even some of them are displaced and helpless, the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Disability Center "Nipotowe" in Palu provides entrepreneurial therapy through the production of paper recycled art for persons with intellectuals disabilities.

This paper recycling production practice was initiated by the "Nipotowe" Disability Center in Palu in collaboration with the Kumala Foundation and the Waste Management Institute (LPS).

Social Minister Risma, through her personal network, Whatsapp, expressed her support so that the production of paper recycled art becomes a business opportunity for persons with intellectual disabilities. In fact, she did not hesitate and wanted to promote the reproductions of works with persons with intellectual disabilities, fostered by Balai "Nipotowe" in Palu to be sold in Jakarta so that persons with disabilities can live in prosperity.

"Asking for the production to be sent to Jakarta, we will return the results," said Risma.


Although the production of recycled paper is something that has just been trained for persons with intellectual disabilities under the guidance of the "Nipotowe" Center for Disabilities in Palu, Syaiful Samad, as the Head of the Balai, believes that this activity can be carried out by persons with intellectual disabilities.


"We start from encouraging ourselves that we can," said Syaiful when he opened the paper recycling production therapy activity on Friday (5/02/21) yesterday.


"The production of recycled paper processing can be a business opportunity for persons with intellectual disabilities because in addition to having a market, paper recycling is environmentally friendly and has its own uniqueness because it is done by persons with intellectual disabilities," said Syaiful.


Syaiful Samad hopes that the work of persons with intellectual disabilities can not only be enjoyed by the community because of its quality, but also have art.


"If so far there is the stigma that persons with intellectual disabilities cannot, we want that stigma to change by proving that the works of persons with intellectual disabilities can also be competitive, have quality, have artistic value and be enjoyed by the community," said Syaiful.


In line with this, Dindin from the Kumala Foundation as the resource person said that this art of recycling paper can be done by persons with disabilities.


"The recycled paper production process does not require special skills," said Dindin. "Anyone can do it because the process is very simple," added Dindin.


Furthermore, Dindin said that recycling is not just waste but is a business opportunity that can be utilized and has its own market.


"The art of recycling paper is the art of processing waste into goods of sale value," explained Dindin.


"Something that is deemed useless, remnant, used and worthless is often considered" trash "so it needs to be removed and thrown into the trash. But if we want, we can process it into valuables and high artistic value," said Dindin.


To reach more persons with disabilities to access training, the "Nipotowe" Center for Disabilities in Palu implemented a Trainer of Trainer (ToT) which was attended by 30 people. Participants consisted of several LKS around the city of Palu, namely, LKS Tadulako, Mekar Abadi Sigi, Muhamadiyah Palu, disability organizations such as Gerkatin, as well as parents and persons with intellectual disabilities.