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ore than 100 senior high schools and vocational schools from the Greater Jakarta area took part in a one-day workshop on entrepreneurship on Wednesday to foster their business skills and interest in running their own businesses and to create job opportunities rather than seeking employment once they finish their education.

In an inspiring and enthusiastic presentation, Saptuari Sugiharto, a young and successful entrepreneur, shared his up-and-down experience in developing his company from a mere “internet stall”, Kedai Digital, into a multi-billion rupiah enterprise.

“People will always associate UKM with usaha kecil menengah, or small and medium enterprises [SMEs]. For me, UKM stands for usaha kreatif miliaran, or multi-billion rupiah, creative enterprises,” Sugiharto said with a laugh.

When he started his small business, nobody thought that it would be hugely successful.

As a recipient of several awards, including the Indonesia Franchise Awards, Wira Usaha Mandiri, and Asia-Pacific Entrepreneur Award, Sugiharto currently has 56 Kedai Digital Shops in 35 cities in Indonesia.

“They [young people] are starting to view working as civil servants and in offices as no longer appealing, which I think is a good trend in reducing the country’s high unemployment rate,” he said.

“Entrepreneurship is so much more than just learning to run your own business. It is an approach to life that involves thinking of yourself as a ‘can-do’ person. After all, if you can start your own business, you can do just about anything!” said Yulia Herawati, the executive director of the Jakarta Post Foundation.

The workshop was made available to the students under the Partnership of Education, involving Bank Mandiri, Chevron, the Education and Culture Ministry and the Jakarta Post Foundation.

Student participants were later challenged to create their own “companies”, business and marketing plans and presentations.

A group calling itself Teen Com came up with an idea to produce art and handicrafts from garbage and recycled paper. Other groups came up with plans for a grilled chicken shop and an ice cream corner.

“I am so excited to take part in the program. Now, I will start selling my own products to my friends at school,” said a student, who sells nasi bungkus (rice mixed with meat or chicken wrapped in banana leaves) every day before class.

Sydney Shellebarger, one of the judges at the workshop and competition, said she was very impressed with the students’ ability to mingle with their friends from different schools.

“I have seen so much talent among Indonesian school students and this workshop enhances their teamwork, self-confidence and creativity. The workshop has given lifetime skills to these students,” Shellebarger, who works at Chevron, commented.