From 14 to 28 August 2023, Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun (YIIM), BKMM Kota Bekasi, and PT Insight Investments Management delivered ten days of social-enterprise training in doll sewing for ten BKMM members.

The program reflected Insight’s corporate social responsibility commitment and its Transforming Investments into Social Impact approach. It followed earlier empowerment activities for BKMM members and introduced doll production as a new pathway towards microenterprise.

Chrisbiantoro, Chair of YIIM, said the course added a new skill to YIIM and Insight’s social-enterprise portfolio and expressed hope that it would lead to new micro, small, and medium enterprises. Siti Napsiah, representing BKMM, hoped the ten-day course would enable participants to contribute to commercial doll orders.

Training was held daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Diah Mandiri Toys factory in Bantargebang, Bekasi. Siti Napsiah led the course with Rohmat as assistant trainer.

The curriculum combined theory and practice. Participants learned to identify sewing equipment and machines, control machines without needles or thread, and sew straight, curved, round, and slippery materials. They progressed to making ball dolls, neck pillows, and teddy bears while also studying different materials.

Each day began with a review and included discussion, questions, and an end-of-session evaluation. Participants received training modules, sewing toolkits, and machine tables for direct practice.

Practical assignments covered machine operation, installing thread and needles, pattern development and stitching, stuffing techniques, and calculation of the capital required to start a doll-sewing enterprise.

The initiative contributes to SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Salam Inspirasi!