Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun (YIIM) together with PT Insight Investments Management (INSIGHT) on this occasion presents the profile of a beneficiary from one of the alumni of the 2nd batch (batch 2) barber entrepreneurship class in 2020, namely Abdul Rochim.

The social entrepreneurship class is one of YIIM’s flagship programs supported by INSIGHT. The social entrepreneurship class is provided to underprivileged and pre-prosperous communities in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 1, ending poverty in all its forms everywhere, and SDGs Number 10, reducing inequality. YIIM and INSIGHT are committed to spreading inspiration to the community to contribute and gain competitiveness, particularly in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector.

Abdul Rochim, or commonly called Rochim, is a head of household who migrated from Brebes Regency to Jakarta.

He has a wife and two children who are still in junior high and elementary school. Rochim works hard to support his family’s economy back home by working as an online motorcycle taxi driver. Due to the high demands of supporting his family in his hometown, he is willing to drive passengers from morning until night.

The beginning of 2020 was a tough year for Rochim due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic sometimes left him without passengers and he experienced a drastic decline in income. However, the pandemic conditions did not make Rochim despair. Through information from a friend, he mustered the courage to join the barber entrepreneurship training at YIIM.

Driven by his never-give-up attitude and economic needs, he seized the opportunity to change his family’s economic situation. Rochim began participating in every stage, from training to internship at Barber Inspirasi. After completing the training and internship, Rochim submitted a proposal for capital assistance in the form of business equipment to open a barbershop.

Thanks to his seriousness and perseverance during the training and internship, the proposal he submitted was approved by YIIM and INSIGHT.

Now, Rochim has returned to his hometown and opened a barbershop business named “BARBER ARJUNA” on Jalan Tanggeran, Tonjong District, Brebes Regency. With a hair-cutting rate of Rp. 10,000 (ten thousand rupiah) for adults and Rp. 8,000 (eight thousand rupiah) for children, Rochim is able to serve 5 customers a day, and 10-15 on holidays. In a month, Rochim can generate a revenue of around Rp. 2,000,000 (two million rupiah) to Rp. 3,000,000 (three million rupiah).

Over time, Rochim’s customers have begun to increase, especially during holidays. His current situation does not yet allow him to hire employees, so he began teaching hair-cutting skills to his wife, and on weekends Rochim is often assisted by his wife.

Rochim expressed, “I am very fortunate to have found the entrepreneurship training held by YIIM. Thanks to the barber training and the business equipment assistance provided, I feel very helped and can return to my hometown to open a barbershop there. I can be reunited with my wife and children.”

“I also want to inspire people in my area to become independent entrepreneurs. I want to share the knowledge from the barber training I have undergone to help those in need. Hopefully, YIIM and INSIGHT, amidst these difficult times, can continue to motivate and spread kindness to communities both in urban and rural areas. Furthermore, I hope YIIM can help me again in the future to advance my business.”

Abdul Rochim is now able to support his family’s finances again, and he has become part of the YIIM and INSIGHT family. He is also committed to helping others in his area, Brebes Regency. YIIM will also continue to provide mentorship to alumni of entrepreneurship training programs who have started businesses.

Hopefully, more and more MSMEs will be created from YIIM’s economic empowerment programs. Through these programs, YIIM and INSIGHT hope to help stabilize the national economy by realizing economic independence for communities at the micro level. This is also one of the steps closer to realizing SDGs No. 1 and SDGs No. 10. Salam Inspirasi!

Salam Inspirasi!