Youths Develop Hometowns

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

The village economy development complex (Balkondes) in Ngargogondo village is seen in an aerial photograph taken on Thursday (25/10/2018) in Borobudur, Magelang regency, Central Java. The Balkondes, which has been operating one month, is designed to help improve the local economy through creating jobs.

MAGELANG, KOMPAS – Youths that left their villages to work in the city have now returned home. They are happy and proud to be involved in developing their villages. The potential of the villages, which they were not aware of before, are now being tapped to help develop the local economy.

Qorutul Aini, 21, who works at the village economic center (Balkondes) in Majaksingi village of Borobudur, Magelang regency, Central Java, sincerely wants to develop her village. She was willing to take a pay cut compared to the salary she received at her previous job.

When she was a contract worker in Jakarta and Tangerang (Banten), Aini earned Rp 3.9 million to Rp. 5 million per month. However, she now receives less than Rp 1 million per month from Balkondes. Aini realized that the salary at Balkondes would not be very big, because the village center has just begun operating.

However, she believed that Balkondes would bring the village community hope for a better economy and welfare.

The Balkondes in Ngargogondo village, Borobudur, gives high school graduate Devi Lutvitasari, 18, a reason option to stay in her village.

Balkondes have been established in several villages across the district of Borobudur with the support of major state companies to enable the local people to benefit from Borobudur Temple’s tourist programs. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated the district’s first two Balkondes, Tuksongo and Wingin Putih, in September 2017.

Borobudur Temple is one of the government’s 10 priority tourist destinations being promoted as a "New Bali". From January to August, 10.58 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia. The Balkondes trains residents to support the local tourism industry, for example by running home stays. Today, 20 Balkondes have been developed around Borobudur Temple.

The participation of youths in developing the rural economy has also increased in Bejiharjo village of Gunung Kidul regency, Yogyakarta.

Feri Yunanto, 35, decided to return to his village after 12 years working at a leather craft company in Yogyakarta. Feri was interested in becoming involved in managing tourism at the Goa Pindul, a popular cave in Gunung Kidul.

Goa Pindul tourism was initiated in 2010 and continues to grow as one of the favorite tourist destinations in Gunung Kidul.

"I am a native to Bejiharjo. Since there is something I can do for the village, I chose to come home instead of migrating," he said last week.

Tourist activities at Goa Pindul include cave tubing. Sitting in a modified inner tube, tourists can float down the cave’s underground river to enjoy the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

Today, 11 tour operators with 200 members provide tours to Goa Pindul. Youths can work as guides or as agents for transporting tourists. They receive training from Bank Central Asia and other entities on guiding visitors.

Over the weekend, 700 people visited Goa Pindul. The collective incomes of youths managing the cave’s tourism average Rp 150 million to Rp 200 million per month. On average, the youths earn more than Gunung Kidul’s minimum wage of Rp 1.45 million per month.

In Banjarbaru city, South Kalimantan, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) continue to expand in Landasan Ulin subdistrict’s Syamsuddin Noor village, one of the villages receiving assistance through the Astra Group’s Astra Berseri Village (KBA) program.

KBA Syamsudin Noor chairp Sumiati said in Banjarbaru that the products of several MSMEs had penetrated the foreign market under the KBA program. "Some of our products have been sent to Hong Kong. Of course, we are pleased," Sumiati said.

According to Sumiati, five MSMEs are part of the KBA Syamsudin Noor. They produce seven products including banana chips, different fried nuts such as Kacang Bawang (onion-flavored nuts), Kacang Balado (spicy nuts), Kacang Jeruk (kaffir leaf-flavored nuts), purple sweet potato sticks and peanut butter.

"We plan to make original handcraft products from South Kalimantan such as the Sasirangan and Amplang textiles. However, this has not been realized yet because not people have mastered the skills to make them. We still need more training," she said.

Sustainability

Several companies are encouraging the participation of youths in rural economic development as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). The companies are currently providing assistance while working to promote economic sustainability.

European Union countries have adopted the concept of sustainable development in a circular economy. The European Commission’s policy officer for ASEAN and South East Asia, Katarina Grgas Brus, said that the issues raised included increasing local incomes.

On the sidelines of the 2018 Padmamitra Award ceremony, Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that the purpose of CSR programs had changed. Today, CSR did not only involve providing assistance, but also helping to resolve social issues.

The number of youths involved in developing rural economies is continuing to grow. Some receive guidance through CSR programs. These youths are working hard to help grow the economies of their hometowns.

(EGI/HRS/JUM/HEN/E03)