PKH Beneficiary in Malang Develops a Café and Barbershop after Receiving MoSA’s PENA

BATU (26 April 2023) – Aminingsih has been receiving the benefit of the Family Hope Program (PKH) of the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) since 2018. She admitted that PKH had made significant contributions to her family's economic well-being, particularly in education.

"Thank God, it helps us so much. I use the funds to pay my children’s tuition and purchase school essentials such as shoes, a backpack, books, and a school uniform. It depends on their needs," she said during a recent interview at her house in Bulukerto Village, Bumiaji District, Batu City. 

Aminingsih has three children, two of whom are still attending school. Her second child is a vocational high school student, and her youngest has recently started junior high. According to the regulations, the Aminingsih family is entitled to receive two components of assistance: IDR 375 thousand for junior high school and IDR 500 thousand for high school, for a total of IDR 875 thousand each disbursement.

Every day, Aminingsih sells in a small cafe in front of her house. The cafe opens at 4 p.m. The villagers, most of whom were farmers, had just returned from the rice fields at that hour. Stopping at a cafe is a moment to take a break after a long day of work.

The business has only been running for three years. Previously, she made a lot by doing odd jobs like helping to dispose of apple skins on other people's farmland. Unfortunately, she has to quit owing to medical issues.

"I used to do odd jobs. Since I have asthma, my husband then opened the cafe so I wouldn't feel fatigued and the asthma wouldn't reoccur," said this 41-year-old woman.

The potential cafe customers are men and colleagues who get haircuts at her husband's barbershop. Establishing a café business requires the ability to spot opportunities. Previously, Aminingsih's husband saw many barber shop customers queuing for their turn.

So, while they wait, they can enjoy a cup of coffee and other refreshments at the Aminingsih café. The cafe and barbershop are purposefully positioned near Aminingsih's home. She inherited the house from her parents.

"So this house is not entirely mine. This is an inheritance from my parents that has been divided between siblings. I got approximately 4 x 10 meters, from the barbershop to the rear. Meanwhile, the one utilized for the cafe belongs to my older brother,” she explained.

Aminingsih's cafe sells various types of popular sachet drinks, instant noodles, and tempura. Although it can yield revenues, the turnover is small. Aminingsih cannot raise prices because she has to adjust to customer purchasing power.

For example, one bowl of instant noodles costs IDR 3,100 and sells for IDR 5,000. Amingsih also sells instant coffee for a profit of IDR 1,000 per packet.

To increase turnover, more business capital is needed so that more can be sold. Fortunately, Aminingsih and her husband, Darmaji (43) obtained business development assistance from the Nusantara Economic Hero (PENA) Program.

PENA provided Aminingsih Cafe with two sets of tables and chairs. One table set comes with four chairs. There were also two dozen bowls, four dozen glasses, drink sachets, and instant noodles. Received in January 2023, this additional funding has the potential to treble the cafe's profits.

"Usually the turnover is between IDR 50,000 and IDR 70,000. It can now range from IDR 80,000 to IDR 150,000," she stated.

The barber shop also received new equipment from PENA, including a hydraulic cutting chair for increased customer comfort, a clipper and trimmer cutting, two sets of hair-cutting scissors and combs, a cape, a shaver, and two mirror units. Currently, barbershop income can reach IDR 300,000 per day during peak season.

Aminingsih is grateful to be one of those who received PENA assistance. She hopes that her business will continue to flourish. "I hope that in the future, the business will progress further and be able to get a more appropriate place," she went on to say.

Aminingsih no longer worries about not receiving social assistance. She can get IDR 875,000 from her current business to replace the social assistance. "God willing, it's enough from the business results," she remarked when asked if the business results were enough to cover the school fees obtained from PKH.