goodmorningpapua.com – The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) held vocational training of batik and sewing for communities in four regions in Papua, namely Biak Numfor Regency, Yapen Islands Regency, Waropen Regency and Supiori Regency. This activity is carried out to strengthen the development of human resources (HR), especially in disadvantaged areas.
“This is a message from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo to Minister of Social Affairs Risma that you must pay attention to Papua,” said Social Minister Expert Benhur Tomi Mona in a written statement, Wednesday (14/12/2022).
This training was organized by the Center for Education, Training and Professional Development of the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with a Sewing Instructor Team from Surabaya and Batik Instructors from the Giriloyo Batik Writing Center, Yogyakarta. The training which was held from 5-16 December 2022 was attended by 30 participants.
Benhur explained that this training focuses on using a life skills training approach or training that is applicable, and directly practiced in real situations. This aims to form capabilities that can be utilized to improve the family economy.
Benhur said the participants were very enthusiastic about this training. This was seen during batik training. Participants were challenged to produce 3 pieces of batik per person, but in fact many of them produced up to 7 pieces of batik.
In fact, to produce one batik must go through a long process, starting from making patterns on the cloth, cutting the patterned cloth, coloring it 3 times, pelorodan to drying it. However, this process is pursued to produce batik works of high artistic value.
The enthusiasm of the participants who were able to produce this extraordinary work impressed Benhur. He hopes this training can improve the family economy.
“With high intentions, enthusiasm and commitment from Mama, Papa, Siblings who take part in this training, it is hoped that it will be able to improve the family economy and overcome extreme poverty in the land of Papua,” he said.
Benhur added that in terms of creativity, the participants were good at developing designs, such as the Mangrove Fruit motif design, the Mambruk Bird design typical of Papua, and even combining written batik with jumputan batik.
In sewing training, participants are taught skills in making sewing patterns, details of cuts and types of stitches, as well as an introduction to tools and disassembling sewing machines. This is also the aspiration of one of the training participants.
“Ma’am, we also want to be trained on how to disassemble a sewing machine. We want to be good at making batik, sewing as well as disassembling and assembling the sewing machine, so if something breaks we can also repair it,” said participant from Biak Numfor Merci Yolanda Sroyer.
On the other hand, Assistant II for Economic Affairs and Governance at the Regional Secretariat of Biak Regency Numfor Lot L. Yensenem hopes that this training can help increase family and community income.
“In collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, this batik and sewing training is very important to carry out, because it has quite good opportunities if it is practiced properly. This will help increase family and community income, as well as motivate and improve the skills of the participants,” he said.
This training also caught the attention of the regional government of Biak Numfor Regency, such as the Head of the Social Service, the Head of the Industry and Trade Service, the Tourism Office, the Head of the Manpower Service, the Head of the Cooperative Service and the Head of the PKK.