Empower Women with Sustainable Livelihood

BLITAR, INDONESIA – The Indonesian Migrant Workers' Community (KOPI) from five villages in Blitar Regency, in collaboration with the INFEST Foundation, held a strategic meeting to formulate the 2026 Community Business Development Plan.

 The forum, titled "Strategic Planning for Community Business Development across 5 Villages in Blitar Regency 2026," took place on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Puri Arta Holtel, Blitar. The session brought together 34 participants, including board members of KOPI and Community-Owned Businesses (BUMKOPI) from Gogodeso, Jatinom, Pandanarum, Lorejo, and Sumberagung, as well as the Blitar Regency KOPI board and the INFEST team.

Since its initiation in late 2022, economic empowerment through KOPI's community businesses has shown diverse dynamics. While some communities have achieved sustainable growth, others have faced stagnation or operational losses. This meeting served as a vital space for reflection and methodical planning.

Ainun Naim, Chairperson of KOPI Gogodeso—which manages a basic food supplies (sembako) store—emphasized the importance of professional management. "Our store is running, but we realize there are gaps, especially in management and marketing strategies. This meeting has opened our eyes to the need for detailed business planning so that we don't just operate, but actually grow," Naim stated.

In Pandanarum, the focus has shifted toward sustainability and market expansion. Sudarmianto, Chairperson of KOPI Pandanarum, highlighted the challenges of their organic fertilizer business. "We have a high-quality product, but access to broader markets and modern marketing technology remains limited. With the 2026 strategy, we hope to reach farmers far beyond our own village," he explained.

 Meanwhile, Sundoko, Chairperson of KOPI Jatinom, pointed out the social aspect of community business. Managing a retail store requires consistent internal commitment. "Our strategy moving forward will focus on institutional strengthening and fairer role distribution, ensuring the business truly belongs to the community," Sundoko noted.

Strengthening the Pillar of Protection

Economic empowerment is not just about profit; it is a critical component of the protection framework for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) and their families. Sofwan Hadi, Program Manager at INFEST Foundation, explained that KOPI was established as a support system and a partner for village governments. "After successfully handling legal cases and human resource training, the focus is now shifting toward the economy. While the spirit is high, business management requires a methodical approach," Hadi asserted.

 "Today's activity is crucial as it transforms real-world experiences—both failures and successes—into a measurable and applicable Follow-Up Plan (RTL). We want to ensure these community enterprises create genuine economic independence for migrant workers' families."

A Commitment to 2026The strategic meeting concluded with a comprehensive list of development strategies and a roadmap for 2026. It marks a significant milestone in the shared commitment between KOPI and INFEST to achieve community-based economic independence, ensuring that the fruits of labor from migrant families are nurtured into sustainable local prosperity.