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Mrs. Sujiati provides business opportunities for laid off workers with PNM Mekaar
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n inspiring story comes from a city known for shrimp production, Sidoarjo. It involves Mrs. Sujiati, who was able to fill her neighbors with wonder and admiration.
Previously, she worked as a coordinator in a factory that produced shoes and other items. However, with determination, Mrs. Sujiati decided to resign from the factory and start a business using her savings. Armed with sewing skills, Mrs. Sujiati is capable of producing standard leather products and sewing branded shoes that are sold at the mall.
She started a leather craft business producing sandals and shoes with her friends in 2019. It has been two years since she started running her business independently by employing several of her neighbors.
In 2020, many of her colleagues at the factory were affected by layoffs. She was also moved to invite 25 female former factory employees to participate in producing leather crafts independently like herself. However, unlike Mrs. Sujiati, who had set aside some savings to start a business, her colleagues did not have a penny of capital.
Mrs. Sujiati did not despair, apart from needing additional raw materials, she also wanted her colleagues to be able to provide a living for their families again. She decided to become a PNM Mekaar customer to get additional capital and allow 25 of her colleagues to become members of the group she led.
For her, applying for a loan at Mekaar was easy and she felt very well assisted by the account officer (AO) who accompanied her in running her business.
“This is the main reason I joined Mekaar and invited my friends. As the group leader, I am responsible for the smooth running of their repayments. I choose my own group members, who I have known for years, what they are like,” explained Mrs. Sujiati.
Her 25 colleagues also help produce leather crafts at Mrs. Sujiati's house and market their products to potential buyers. Thanks to her persistence in helping other women in difficult times, God opened the widest possible way for Mrs. Sujiati's business. The sewing products grew to the point where factories in Surakarta ordered leather shoes from the business. Mrs. Sujiati has not only been able to provide for the welfare of her family but has also created jobs for approximately 100 employees at her home.
"Living without a steady income is already hard, let alone getting laid off, but we as fellow women can support one another," she concluded.
