T

he Dayakan Indonesia (Empower Indonesia) movement was launched on Wednesday to enable agents of change across the country to gather and assist micro entrepreneurs and lower-middle income families to improve their livelihoods.

Empower Indonesia comprises 17 institutions and individuals, including health movement Pencerah Nusantara, the Asgar Muda Foundation, Selamatkan Ibu (Save Mom), I love Indonesian Food (ACMI), Dondi Hananto, Roby Muhamad, William Wongso and Michael Leksodimulyo.

Dondi, founder of social enterprise Kirana, said at the launch that he was very enthusiastic about the movement as it would enable him to expand his network with other social enterprises.

'€œI expect that there will be something we can do through this movement, especially in terms of capacity building for small enterprises as that is one of the main problems for small enterprises apart from a lack of capital,'€ he said.

The founder of youth-based Asgar Muda foundation Goris Mustaqim said that a movement to develop micro businesses was of great importance as there were still many people living below the poverty line despite rapid economic growth.

'€œNot only can we get something from other social enterprises or communities, we can also use our expertise for them. For example, we plan to collaborate with social shopping website bukalapak.com to market goods from our entrepreneurs in Garut,'€ he said.

Asgar Muda, which was established in 2007, now has 1,000 small enterprise members with a total value of Rp 1.2 billion (US$121,000).

Goris explained that the main problem for most small-scale enterprises was accessing capital, which made them vulnerable to loan sharks.

Michael Leksodimulyo decided to resign from his position as doctor in a private hospital in Surabaya to become a social entrepreneur counseling people from various backgrounds, including beggars, buskers and homeless people.

'€œOur enemy now is not colonialism, but poverty. If we could fight that, the country would be better,'€ he said.

The new movement, Empower Indonesia, is open to public participation through its website dayakanindonesia.com.

The initiative grew out of the Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional (BTPN) microfinance program named Daya, which has accrued 1.5 million members since its inception in 2011.

'€œWe realize that if we want to make a bigger impact on this country, we need to cooperate with those having a similar vision and mission,'€ BTPN Daya chairman David Freddynanto, said during the movement launch event in Kemang, South Jakarta. (koi)