Water Hyacinth Business Products Made by Children against the Law

WEST LOMBOK (7 February 2021) - The Children's Center "Paramita" of the Ministry of Social Affairs in Mataram which implements the Social Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Children Needing Special Protection (AMPK) continues to realize innovation through vocational therapy and entrepreneurship skills.

One of them, the beneficiaries in Paramita are very sharp in observing and utilizing the business potential of water hyacinth plants into high economic value products.

Initially, water hyacinth became an enemy of farmers because it was considered to disturb farmers' rice plants and absorb the nutrients needed by rice. However, in the hands of the main beneficiary children against the law (ABH), water hyacinth can be processed into economical value products, including beautiful sandals (sego paramita), trays of water hyacinth (nego), tissue boxes of water hyacinth, cafe lights, water hyacinth key chain and "Ngober" bicycle holder.

I Ketut Supena, as the head of the Paramita Children's Center said, "Our water hyacinth processing has started almost a year ago to be precise starting in March 2020, at first, I saw so many water hyacinths being multiplied around the Hall, in farmers' fields and some were growing in the Hall pond, then growing our initiative to using it to be effective.

Next, together our children tried to make sandals, then trays, "Ngober" bicycle stands, etc. We do this effort so that the children's entrepreneurial spirit can be sharpened, it can make children have creative thoughts and we hope that this water hyacinth product can be a source of income for them."

"P", a male beneficiary who also makes water hyacinth, said, "I am happy to follow this because I was given the freedom to be creative in shaping patterns and motives, and I am happy that some have sold and I get money."

Supena added, "We give children the freedom to be creative in determining patterns, motifs, and models according to their wishes, but we still accompany and direct them to still get aesthetics and selling points." The products from water hyacinth have received appreciation from the community, as evidenced by the existence of orders for several products such as sandals and trays; of course, we have to improve the marketing strategy again so that the children will be interested in continuing their production after joining the Social Rehabilitation Assistance.