YOU are the KEY

Purwanto, from street trader to Batik maker.

His concerns about the fate of Indonesian batik made Purwanto dedicate himself entirely to batik making and preserving a culture and a tradition for generations to come. 

Pekalongan is known as the city of batik. It was in this city that  Purwanto was born. 

 In 2004, the man who is called Purwanto decided to wander to Jakarta. "I go with the flow of urbanization to seek my fortune," he explained. Unfortunately, the goddess of Fortune had not sided with him. Without qualifications, only holding a junior high school diploma, what work could he get?  Purwanto tried to make a living by all means. He had been a compact disc seller, construction worker, and he even joined the project to build toll roads.

Finally, Purwanto started a jeans alteration service. He acquired the skill of sewing while he was working at a garment manufacturer in Pekalongan. Purwanto’s targeted area when offering alteration services was Kedoya and surrounding areas, in West Jakarta. While traveling around those areas, Purwanto met someone from Rumah Belajar (Learning house) Duri Kepa who was giving information about Rumah Belajar as well as looking for students. "I immediately asked if I could still be a student?" Purwanto recounted. Apparently the answer he received was very comforting. It did not take long until Purwanto officially became a student in Rumah Belajar Duri Kepa managed by Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB). "I took Package C, straight to the third year, because I had been through high school until the second year," he said. 

Life’s Journey

Rumah Belajar was a door that opened up many opportunities for Purwanto. After passing Package C, and thanks to YCAB’s recommendation, Purwanto participated as a management trainee at a fashion company, Sophie Paris, working in the production department. After working hard at Sophie Paris and gaining his credentials, YCAB offered him a job as a sewing course trainer in Rumah Belajar Duri Kepa. Initially, Purwanto hesitated to accept the offer. Firstly, he felt that his qualifications were not enough to teach others. Secondly, he was already working. "But I finally accepted YCAB's offer to open a sewing course in Rumah Belajar Duri Kepa. I felt challenged," said the man who was born on December 10, 1985 enthusiastically. He also became a faculty member in Rumah Belajar Duri Kepa. "Originally I was in charge as a teacher, but then I was also responsible for production," Purwanto said.

While enjoying his days as a teacher and doing a fantastic job, the Goddess of fortune began to smile down to Purwanto. Through his hard work and dilligence YCAB gave him a new offer, one he could not resist. This time the work was in Pekalongan, his hometown. "By the end of 2014, I was offered to run Batik House (Rumah Batik). Its name was Rumah Batik Tower Bersama Infrastructure or TBIG Pekalongan," Purwanto said. The job offer to work in his hometown didn’t go to waste. He went on home. Now, the first child of the four siblings of Sahrudin and Gutin is responsible for Rumah Batik TBIG, in Wiradesa Village, Pekalongan. 

Rumah Batik TBIG.

Rumah Batik TBIG (TBIG Batik House) is a place to build up batik craftsmenship, as well as to provide education for young children who are expected to become the next generation of batik craftsmen. Lessons given are batik making and creating a variety of products from batik cloth. Of course it is very appropriate to establish Rumah Batik in Pekalongan, considering its history as one of several batik centers in Java Island. 

Because the target is young people, Purwanto socializes the activities in Rumah Belajar TBIG to children from boarding schools and orphanages. He wants batik skills to be mastered by the younger generation. According to Purwanto, regeneration of batik craftsmen in Pekalongan is not so good, because young people tend to choose to work in other fields. "So, my first task is to do mapping and find students as well as partners or trainers," said Purwanto. 

During socialization to the community and batik entrepreneurs about the activities in Rumah Batik TBIG, Purwanto often experienced rejection and even underestimated, not infrequently, that those who looked down on him were those who were already in the business.

"Once I invited a batik entrepreneur in Pekalongan to conduct batik training. He even questioned, 'what is the activity for?'” he said. However, there had never been a word of surrender in Purwanto's dictionary. "I got even more excited," he said firmly. "Many people can only get passionate when batik is claimed as another country’s national heritage. Though they don’t necessarily know how to make it. They also don’t necessarily know and understand the life of the craftsmen. They are angry but don’t pay attention to batik. It is pointless,” explained Purwanto. As a son of Pekalongan, his love for batik, which has ancestral heritage makes the spirit of Purwanto to develop Rumah Batik always blazing. "I feel responsible for this valuable piece of art." 

From Purwanto’s observation, hand-made batik’s demand has begun to diminish, because it is replaced by textile with batik motifs called printed batik. Therefore, he and his team in Rumah Belajar TBIG are re-energizing the manufacturing of natural batik dye materials from plants and the management of more environmentally friendly waste. He does not want batik products to bring only material benefits to the producers, but they also must provide benefits to nature. "Now, I'm trying to develop an educational tour program about natural dyes and waste management," says Purwanto enthusiastically. In addition, the daily task of Purwanto is to foster and accompany around 50 children aged 13-25 years.

"Now the task entrusted to me has increased, that is to market the batik of students' work, although they are also equipped with the basic knowledge about entrepreneurship,” he continued. "Sharing experiences and motivating them is also my duty. When students can produce beautiful works, and then the work is sold, my happiness cannot be described with words,” Purwanto explained. 

Being a part of YCAB is an extraordinary experience for Purwanto. "I work with great people in a great institution. I want to be like the people at YCAB, who do everything from the heart, and so what they do is useful to the society. At least what I'm doing here can be a provision in the hereafter," he concludes.

The story of Muntaka is a wonderful insite into what can be accomplished with Love, dedication and hard work.

Muntaka had been a scavenger, but he never gave up on life. Always thirsty for knowledge, he kept trying to learn. He hopes that his knowledge will lead him to success.

The desire to find experiences and work in Jakarta made Muntaka move from Indramayu his home village. Equipped with a high school certificate from MAN Sukra Indramayu, he followed his uncle, without knowing what he would become. He only had his strong willpower; the willingness to succeed in the capital city. Unfortunately, his willpower was not enough. Without qualified skills, it would be difficult to compete with other job seekers. Even with a high school diploma, it still had not much value. Having no choice, Muntaka survived by being a scavenger.

 Luckily, near the house of his uncle in Pondok Bambu, the man who was familiarly called Mun saw Rumah Belajar. At that time, in 2013, YCAB Foundation had recently established a Rumah Belajar (Learning centre). Mun was interested and decided to take a mechanical course. "I wanted to know everything about motorcycles, including any problems that were often encountered," he said. Never dealing with mechanical tools before did not make Mun tremble. He even managed to become the best graduate. 

The Best Graduate

As the best graduate in Rumah Belajar, Mun was selected to participate in advanced training at Astra Honda Motor. During the first month Mun learned the theory, the second month of practice, and the remaining two months were spent in an internship at a Honda Motor shop in the Pondok Bambu area. "Because of my apprenticeship, I understood about motorcycles, knew the damages, knew the difference between Honda and Yamaha motorcycles, and knew the difference between two-stroke and four-stroke motors," Mun said in detail. In the training, he managed to become the best graduate, so he earned a prize of Rp5.000.000, -.($375)

After the course was finished, Mun still went to Rumah Belajar. "I felt the need to get more experiences and knowledge. For example, learning about fuel injection. In the past, all the motorcycles were using a carburetor, but now it has changed, it is now the fuel injection era," Mun explained. In addition, Mun also wanted to help the younger students of his generation. "I can teach how to open the carburetor, change the oil," said Mun. He was not paid to teach, but volunteered to do so, because he knew he could benefit from sharing knowledge. "By teaching, our knowledge will automatically increase," he added.

One day, Mun received some information about the course in another Rumah Belajar. Apparently, Rumah Belajar Duri Kepa provides audio, mobile, and sewing courses, while Rumah Belajar Cipinang holds a computer course. Mun decided to take the computer course.

The reason was simple, "Technology is getting more and more sophisticated, I do not want to miss out," he said. At Rumah Belajar he learned how to operate Microsoft Office.

After the computer course, Mun returned to Indramayu. Using the gift from Honda, he enrolled to the Department of Information Management, Bina Sarana Informatika (BSI) in 2014. However, his plan to be a college student did not run smoothly. Paying tuition became an obstacle for Mun to earn his bachelor's degree. "I was forced to leave college, after 1.5 years," he said softly.

Weaving The Dream

As a strong and tough person, Mun did not want to get lost in sorrow. He remained diligent in looking for new opportunities. He returned to Jakarta and visited Rumah Belajar. Apparently, YCAB offered him a job at PT Penta Artha Impressi. Mun accepted the offer straight away. "People said motorcycles and cars were the same, so I took the job offer. But it turned out there was a difference between theory and practice," said Mun. Concerned that he did not quite master the job, Mun admitted that he was often feeling nervous. "Because I haven’t got to know my friends and the surrounding, and my lack of skills, I am a bit embarrassed," he said. But Mun maintained his curious attitude. That way, he is constantly learning, even at work. Every day, Mun works from 8am to 5pm. Sometimes, he must work until late. While working, Mun still keeps the dream of finishing college. "Thank God, it turns out my dream to go to college can come true, because YCAB gave me a scholarship to continue college," he concluded.

So dear reader, please keep on donating to YCAB Foundation, without you we would not be able to help young men and women like Muntaka to realise thier dreams and live a better life. Donate a little now, and pay it forward for a long time.