The Indonesia Building Inspiration Foundation (YIIM) in collaboration with PT Insight Investments Management (INSIGHT) (INSIGHT) is again holding social entrepreneurship training with specifications for sewing skills for Muslim women’s clothing. This program collaborates with the Pondok Bambu Class I State Detention Center (Rutan), located at Jl. Revolutionary Hero No.38, RT.4/RW.3, Pd. Bambu, District. Duren Sawit, East Jakarta City, Special Capital Region of Jakarta.

The training was held on 12-16 July and 19-23 July 2023 with a total of 10 participants with an age range of 27 years to 47 years. All participants were female prison inmates, remembering that the detention center.

This activity is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 1 concerning fighting poverty, Number 8 concerning decent work and economic growth, and Number 17 concerning partnerships to achieve the goals.

The sewing training material is the latest program initiated by YIIM and INSIGHT after considering many factors, one of which is the prospect of this type of business to be run on a micro and small business scale, both individually and in groups. So the hope is that prison inmates who participate in this program can become capable sewing entrepreneurs.

The training begins with lessons on making pattern drawings, techniques for measuring materials and cutting materials as well as getting to know sewing machines and supporting equipment such as thread sizes, needles and scissor techniques to get good cutting results.

In his opening remarks on July 12 2023, Chrisbiantoro as chairman of the Management said “Sewing entrepreneurship training is suitable for equipping prison inmates to have additional skills, so that the knowledge gained during the training can be used as provisions when serving the remainder of their prison term or when they are later released with the status of correctional clients until they have the status of pure freedom and return to society.”

Meanwhile, Muhammad Isnaeni Setiawan said in his speech that “Insight through the social funding scheme is committed to being a partner in empowering prison residents to be independent and productive. Together with YIIM we hope that this training will bring benefits to the future of the inmates, especially in the Pondok Bambu Class I Detention Center.”

During 10 days, participants gained a lot of knowledge, lessons and experience and also succeeded in sewing several models of gamis clothing. During the training, Uripah, who was also a trainer, said “This 10-day training is a good basis for the inmates, hopefully they can still deepen the knowledge of sewing skills so that they can produce better products and in the future they will be able to open a business. I hope there will be a continuation of this training.”

Uripah has long experience related to sewing business practices with various models and orders, apart from that he also has experience teaching sewing classes including those held at the Community Learning Activity Center (PKBM) Negeri 16 Rawasari, PKBM 2 Karet, then he has also taught sewing at Said Hakim Tanah Abang Vocational School. Mrs. Uripah also has a national diploma in sewing courses and apparel entrepreneurship training. He opened a sewing entrepreneurial business with 3 of his employees in Cempaka Putih Timur Village, Cempaka Putih District, Central Jakarta.

The participants also received a training certificate as proof of completion of the sewing entrepreneurship training. The training committee, namely YIIM together with Pondok Bambu Class I Detention Center, also conducted pre-tests and post-tests to get the best candidates and results according to the expected outcomes.

From the implementation of the pre-test, it was found that the candidates had high enthusiasm and motivation in participating in the training, although there were several notes that showed they did not understand the sewing material, this is understandable because this material was being taught for the first time. However, in the post test the participants showed quite good progress and understood the material taught by the trainer well.

Separately, the Head of Pondok Bambu Class I Detention Center, Mrs. Dewi Sondari, said “This training is also one of the benchmarks for whether the prison inmates have good behavior or not and are willing to be trained or not, so that can be our consideration in providing relief or other conditions. We hope that this training will bring good benefits, a good portfolio and also good results for developing more productive detention inmates.

Salam Inspirasi!