KUPANG (28 February 2024) - The Ministry of Social Affairs recently organised an entrepreneurial training programme at Sentra Efata in Kupang, aiming to empower 120 individuals with disabilities and vulnerable groups to achieve economic independence. The training is scheduled to occur between February 26 and March 3, 2024. During this training, participants will receive information on the processing of ready-to-eat food, coffee, and pastries. The participants were from various locations including Kupang, Kupang Regency, Belu, Malaka, Sikka, and North-Central Timor, along with the residential clients of Efata Centre.


The head of the Efata Centre, Tota Oceanna, stated the 7-day training was initiated by Ministry of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini. Following the training, the recipients will have the opportunity to showcase their newly acquired skills at the upcoming Bazaar Ramadhan at Sentra Kreasi Atensi (SKA) Efata. “The participants will be selling their product at Bazaar Ramadhan, so they will gain valuable knowledge and experience in marketing,” she mentioned during the meeting at the Efata Centre Kupang on Tuesday (27/2).

She clarified that graduation does not mark the end of the services. The recipients will be closely observed until their income reaches the Regency Minimum Wage (UMK). Monitoring in eastern Indonesia can be quite challenging, especially for those living on remote islands. To address the issue, MoSA actively engaged local social companions in training. One local social companion will provide guidance and supervision to five beneficiaries. "So when we want to stay updated on the progress of beneficiaries' businesses, we will gather information from local companions," Tota explained.

Furthermore, Tota noted that Minister Risma keeps a close eye on graduation. She is required to provide weekly progress reports to the minister. Without a specific goal in mind, she is optimistic that the recipients will be able to successfully market their products within the next three months.

In addition, the training provides recipes for food and bread that blend local ingredients with modern culinary trends. East Nusa Tenggara has great potential for cultivating moringa, corn, and seafood. Some delicious recipes have been shared, such as moringa banana nuggets, fried cromboloni with moringa and corn flakes, and moringa tuna abon. This is designed to make it easier for the beneficiaries to find the ingredients.

According to one of the trainees, Yati Melania Kase (32), the recipe taught by the Surabaya Hotel School trainer is easy to follow and the ingredients are readily available. Following her training, Yati has aspirations to embark on a new entrepreneurial venture - a banana moringa nugget business. "It's much simpler; the ingredients are readily available," she remarked.