Receiving MoSA’s PENA Assistance, a Seller in Kendari Pulls Through with Chips Business

KENDARI (21 April 2023) - The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) continues to support vulnerable groups with social empowerment programs so they can become economically independent. One program that is currently continuing to be strengthened is the Nusantara Economic Heroes (PENA) which targets beneficiaries (PM) of social assistance programs in the form of the Family Hope Program (PKH) or Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT).

Through the PENA Program, MoSA encourages beneficiaries to escape poverty by providing business capital. Apart from that, this program also invites people to stop being dependent on social assistance from the government.

The PENA program is very beneficial for beneficiaries, one of which is Arnike, a BPNT beneficiary from Mandonga District, Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi Province. Before receiving PENA assistance, Arnike earned income from selling Deppa Tori, a typical Toraja pastry.

However, Arnike feels that sales of Tori cakes are very low. This made her despair and stop selling. "I used to sell typical Toraja cakes, but I stopped because there weren't enough customers," said Arnike.

At the end of 2022, MoSA provided PENA assistance to Arnike. The assistance provided was in the form of stoves, pans, filters, spatulas, basins, tables, and other cooking utensils. This sparked Arnike’s passion to start over her business.

After the failure, Arnike tried to seek other business opportunities by using PENA's help to sell various chips. "Thanks to this assistance, I dared to open other businesses of various kinds of chips, namely onion chips, purple sweet potato chips, and cheese chips. I am grateful that with this assistance, I can get orders from around Kendari City," said Arnike.

Arnike sells its products online via Facebook and WhatsApp posts. From this method, Arnike currently has orders for 18 kilos with an income of more than IDR 1,500,000.

Now Arnike can help her husband, a motorcycle taxi driver, meet household needs. "Hopefully, my business can help my family's economy improve. I also want to use the profits to buy necessities for my children," added Arnike.

In the future, Arnike hopes to get out of poverty and not depend on government assistance anymore. Arnike also wants to expand her business and have a shop selling chips.