Paper Recycling and Handicraft Skills Training for Persons with Disabilities

BANDUNG (August 11, 2022) - The Ministry of Social Affairs through Wyata Guna Center in collaboration with PT PLN (Persero) Central Java Development Main Unit, West Bandung Regency Social Office, and Kumala Foundation, in the context of PLN Care, held Skills Training for Persons with Disabilities in West Bandung Regency, which was held at Wyata Guna Center, Bandung.

Paper recycling and handicraft training become works of art that are very worthy. The training was carried out for 4 days with the basic ingredients of waste paper and banana stems which were processed to produce art paper as the basic materials for handicrafts. This activity has produced works into tissue boxes, and goodie bags and can be further developed into various models such as ecopen, photo frames, notebooks, etc.

The training activity which was carried out for 4 days was closed by the Licensing and Communications Manager of PT PLN (Persero) Central Java Development Main Unit and Team, Chairman of the Kumala Foundation and Team, Head of Wyata Guna Bandung Center, and Team, Head of West Bandung Regency Social Office and staff, As well as Social Welfare Service Recipients (PPKS) of West Bandung Regency and the Beneficiaries of Wyata Guna Center Bandung.

Mr. Salman Muslim Pahlawan, Licensing and Communications Manager of PT PLN (Persero) Central Java Development Main Unit, said that "this activity is an annual program of PLN, namely, PLN has a Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) called PLN Care to provide more benefits broadly to the community and the environment, with this program, it is hoped that it can be a good method to educate the public that waste can be turned into products that have economic value".

The chairman of the Kumala Foundation, Mr. Didin Komarudin or who is familiarly called Abah Didin briefly introduced the Foundation, "how Kumala recycles waste so that it has economic value along with the concept of the program being implemented, it can share knowledge and experiences with the wider community," he said.

A warm welcome from the Head of Wyata Guna Center Bandung, Mrs. Sri Harijati, "Let’s help Social Welfare Service Recipients and were grateful that this skills training program was an extraordinary initiation for my friends to develop paper waste for recycling, please explore," he said kindly.

The speech of the Head of the KBB Social Office, Mrs. Sri Dustirawati, expressed her hope that "through this training, apart from being able to develop themselves, improve skills, as well as exchange information and market products to improve the quality of life of Social Welfare Service Recipients, this turns out to be of high value, then the standardization must be met," he said enthusiastically.

The closing ceremony was followed by a symbolic handover of the work during the training activities for recycled art paper and handicrafts, handed over from PT PLN (Persero) Central Java Development Main Unit to one of the representatives of the training participants, Imanudin.

The skills training event was closed by the Head of the Social Office, Mrs. Sri Dustirawati, the Head of the KBB Social Office. Followed by the symbolic handover of the handicraft goodie bags and tissue boxes from recycled art paper from the participants' representatives to Mrs. Rahayu Widastuti as Assistant Manager of Communication and CSR of PT PLN (Persero) Central Java Development Main Unit, Mr. Fandy Junifar Danny, Trainer of Kumala Foundation, Mrs. Sri Harijati, Head of Wyata Guna Center, and Mrs. Sri Dustirawati, Head of KBB Social Office.

10 participants of this training consisting of 7 Recipients from KBB and 3 beneficiaries from Wyata Guna Center Bandung, were very enthusiastic, it could be seen that they laugh happily during the training, they cooperation, and asked questions and answer among participants, trainers, and companions.

Siti Jubaidah (37) the beneficiary of Wyata Guna Center, a person with low vision sensory disabilities said "It was a pleasure to be involved in this training activity, it was a new experience for me."

Imanudin (49), one of the participants from West Bandung Regency with Physical Disabilities, admitted that he was "very happy with the process, especially the togetherness, but a little difficulty in the process of Handicraft goodie bags and Tissue Boxes, you have to be careful when you make it. Yes, if you make it often, it might be better," he concluded. It was an alternative to get more additional income for him, and hope that it will continue.