“Reading a business textbook is tedious and boring, but what I’ve done in the past two weeks is fun and enjoyable,” said Thomas Sutana, Village Local Assistant (P LD) of Sribit and Mendak villages, Delanggu district, who participated in a training entitled “Empowering Micro Business and New Venture by Improving Entrepreneurial Competencies.”
This training activity is a part of the SBM ITB’s research, community service, and innovation program, held on October 1-2, 2022, and October 16, 2022, in Delanggu District, Klaten Regency. Dr. Anggara Wisesa led this program, accompanied by lecturers and a master’s students from the SBM ITB, including Dr. Prameshwara Anggahegari, Aria Bayu Pangestu, M.HRM., Amilia Wulansari, M.Si., Wipti Eka Prahadipta, M.S.M., and Irka Wijaya, S.Farm., collaborated with Dr. Ruspita Rani Pertiwi from the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.
This program targeted members of community empowerment groups in two villages. The first group is the Mina Gatak Makmur group from Sribit Village and the second group is the Generasi Muda Islam (Gemuis) of the Rohmat Mosque from Mendak Village. The two groups were involved because they creatively took advantage of the potentials surrounding them, for example, using irrigation canals to raise tilapia and using the yard to plant lemons, with the produces used for the welfare of the residents and group members.
The training was carried out by emphasizing the discussion followed by some simple exercises. In the initial training session, participants were invited to reflect on their strengths, weaknesses, and situations that could be both opportunities and threats for their businesses. In the end, participants were invited to compile a Business Model Canvas (BMC) to map out the business model they had run.
In the next session, participants were invited to try a free accounting application available on the Google Playstore and were invited to reflect on their business performance. In the final session, participants were invited to discuss and develop a simple strategy for a group business.
The discussion run well, the participants said they did not feel bored during the training sessions. They were enthusiastic about sharing their experiences so that every participant could learn from each other. The participants added that the training provided by the team from SBM ITB and FEBI UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta had opened their eyes to the potential around them. “From the existing weaknesses, we are open to finding solutions,” said Joko, the chairman of Mina Gatak Makmur.
This activity was closed by giving mementos from ITB and venture capital funds to the two groups. In his closing remarks, Dr. Anggara hopes this fund can be used well to implement a business activity development strategy based on the training results.
“With the increase in entrepreneurial competencies, we expect these business actors can develop their current and future businesses,” said Anggara. Sunday (16/10/2022).
