Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun (YIIM), supported by PT Insight Investments Management (Insight IM), conducted the Skilled and Empowered Community Program (Masyarakat Terampil dan Berdaya / MATA) through a Culinary Entrepreneurship Training on Assorted Frozen Foods. Vocational cooking skills present substantial economic opportunities for underprivileged urban and rural communities. The sustained public appetite for ready-to-eat culinary innovations offers an expansive commercial pathway for inventive entrepreneurs.

Today, the culinary sector continues to offer compelling growth prospects. Enhanced by modern digital platforms, managing a food venture has become increasingly streamlined, particularly in digital branding and online distribution. The growing popularity of home-cooking Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) makes frozen culinary products highly sought-after due to their prolonged shelf life and practical preparation.

A cornerstone of YIIM's Culinary Training Program is to equip participants with the ability to prepare marketable, hygienic dishes that hold strong commercial appeal. The training blends theoretical foundations with hands-on practice. For this cohort, Umaroch served as lead trainer alongside assistant trainer Ely Widyawati, both of whom are accomplished alumni of YIIM's earlier culinary programs who now manage flourishing independent food businesses.

The workshop took place on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Head Office of Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun, Grand Wijaya Centre Block F/62B, RT.6/RW.1, Pulo, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, operating from 09:00 to 15:00 WIB. A total of 10 selected participants attended out of 12 invitees, all representing underprivileged households and individuals affected by workforce layoffs (PHK).

The event commenced with welcoming remarks from Isnaeni Setiawan, CSR Coordinator of Insight IM: "In harmony with our guiding ethos, 'Investments to Social Impact,' Insight IM continually encourages investors to participate in mutual funds while generating sustainable social dividends. Our enduring alliance with YIIM demonstrates our commitment to nurturing community self-reliance through vocational empowerment. We trust this training provides participants with the skills needed to establish successful household businesses."

Maria Dewi Yanti, Secretary of the Governing Board of YIIM, shared her insights: "YIIM has dedicated a decade to social progress, with vocational entrepreneurship standing as a premier focus. Backed by our valued partner Insight IM, we strive to guide vulnerable groups toward financial independence. We encourage all participants to absorb this knowledge, execute it practically, and emerge as resilient entrepreneurs supporting their families."

The instruction covered ingredient sourcing, base culinary preparation, airtight food packaging techniques, and cost accounting—including rigorous calculations of Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) to ensure competitive market pricing.

During the hands-on culinary session, participants were divided into four teams. The first module focused on mastering crispy quail egg ekado, followed by a second module crafting seasoned tofu meatballs (tahu bakso) with varied contemporary toppings. Trainers provided personalized guidance throughout every processing phase. Participants actively engaged, posed practical culinary inquiries, and executed each recipe firsthand. The workshop concluded with culinary evaluations, an interactive Q&A session, and the distribution of official certificates.

Mike Rhoma Prianthyi, one of the participants, expressed heartfelt gratitude: "Our deepest thanks go to YIIM and Insight IM for providing this hands-on culinary training. Learning the nuances of frozen food production and pricing has inspired all of us to launch our own home enterprises with enthusiasm."

This initiative directly supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 1 (No Poverty), No. 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and No. 10 (Reduced Inequalities), illustrating how targeted corporate social investments can unlock sustainable livelihood opportunities.

YIIM is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering underserved communities and remains open to collaborative endeavors with all stakeholders to cultivate prosperity throughout Indonesia.

Salam Inspirasi!