Receiving PENA Assistance, Lilis Succeeds in Betawi Cake Business and Encourages Other Beneficiaries

BEKASI (27 April 2023) – Mpok Lilis, as she is known, is tidying up the merchandise in her shop which looks neat in a small alley in the Jatimekar area, Jatiasih, Bekasi, West Java. She smiles when her neighbors pass by.

Mpok Lilis arranges several typical Betawi cakes which fill the shop window. Mpok Lilis or Lilis Suryani is one of the Family Hope Program (PKH) beneficiaries who has received PKH since 2012.

This 49-year-old woman has lived with her children and parents since her husband died.

Even though she received PKH assistance, Lilis did not just wait for help. She continues to develop her potential and business. During that time, her business had ups and downs. She started opening her shop 2 years ago, but it was stopped due to her accident and she had to go to the hospital regularly for treatment.

Having great potential to develop independently, Lilis received Nusantara Economic Hero (PENA) assistance in December 2022. PENA assistance is provided in the form of business equipment, raw materials and/or other materials that support the businesses of the beneficiaries.

She got assistance in the form of frozen food, 1 display case, 2 food shelves, and 1 food box to develop the stall business called Kela Frozen.

"Thank God, after I got PENA, things got better and from December 2022 to April 2023, my business is developing," said Lilis.

Some of the products at Lili's stall are also produced by other PKH beneficiaries in RW 017, Jatimekar Village. These include typical Betawi snacks, such as Kembang Goyang (flower-shaped traditional snack), Coconut Root-shaped Cookies, Dodol Betawi (Indonesian sweet toffee), Onion Chips, Ketapang Seed Cookie, Sweet Potato Chips, and Onion Sticks.

"Currently there are 6 beneficiaries who contribute to producing typical Betawi snacks. They come from RW 17, Jatimekar Subdistrict, Bekasi. I always encourage them to make a better life," she added.

MInistry of Social Affairs is currently intensifying several entrepreneurship programs through Nusantara Economic Heroes (PENA), ATENSI Creation Center (SKA), and entrepreneurship training.

There are 5,209 PENA beneficiaries throughout Indonesia, and by 2023 PENA is targeted to be able to target 7,500 beneficiaries so it increases income to poor and underprivileged families.

The PENA program is primarily expected to be an alternative activity to break the dependency of beneficiaries on social assistance and direct them to become productive and independent.