“Because I live by myself and stay at my children’s, so I help to provide income for the needs by opening a business in the homestead.”

The sentence uttered by Kusmiyati explaining the reasons why she persisted in running her business.

Kusmiyati, a mother who is currently 59 years old, is one of the alumni of the cooking (baking) training held by Yayasan Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun or known as the Foundation for Inspiration of Indonesia Development (YIIM) in cooperation with Insight Investments Management Company in the year of 2019. This training is one of the community’s economic empowerment programs that are aligned with the number 1 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regarding on eradicating poverty and number 10 regarding on ending inequality.

Kusmiyati’s Background and Daily Life

Kusmiyati has four biological children, one of whom is independent.

Previously, Kusmiyati carried out her daily activities by working at other people’s homes and working as a cooking worker with some of her friends. Currently Kusmiyati lives with one of her children in a homestead for employees of an engine oil factory in the Cipinang area.

When it was announced that there was a training organized by YIIM and INSIGHT, Kusmiyati was very interested because she wanted to develop her knowledge. Previously, Kusmiyati only had cooking skills for heavy meals. However, by participating in the training held by YIIM and INSIGHT, Kusmiyati gained new knowledge in the culinary field, namely baking/cake making.

“Thank God I got the experience. Because all this time I used to handle heavy food orders.” Her uttered.

Running a Business with Business Assistance

In addition to new knowledge, Kusmiyati had the opportunity to receive business assistance provided by YIIM and INSIGHT. Thanks to the help and new knowledge that Kusmiyati got, she was able to expand her business, namely selling rice and side dishes and cakes at her rented house in the Cipinang area, East Jakarta.

Kusmiyati and her two friends have a cooperation group under the name of “Loyalty Group of Kitchen Kawan Bu Darsi”. This group is one of Kusmiyati’s jobs when she gets orders to cook in large quantities. Every time there is an order, Kusmiyati and her friends cook together and share the tasks. the income that Kusmiyati earns every time she is called to cook is around IDR 1,000,000 and sometimes brings home the foods of her cooking.

Every time Kusmiyati gets orders to cook in large quantities, Kusmiyati always shares the work with her friends. She felt that by dividing the work among his friends, he would help his friends’ financial income.

Living a New Life in a Homestead

In the year of 2020, Kusmiyati was invited by her independent daughter to live with her in an employee homestead. Because in the last few years Kusmiyati has lived alone left by her husband who has died.

While living in the factory dormitory, Kusmiyati ran a small business, namely selling coffee, ice, noodles and rice. Side dishes such as tempeh, tofu, fish and vegetables. Kusmiyati gets the order through her child. Some employees and drivers order through their children or come directly to the place. Kusmiyati’s gross income every week is IDR 500,000.

While running the business, Kusmiyati experienced several obstacles, such as customers do every week paying instead of every day. But with these obstacles, Kusmiyati continues to run her business with the help of her child. Likewise with the cash flow of the business also assisted by the child.

She hoped that she will continue to develop her business by completing several equipment for the business.

For friends who want to try Kusmiyati’s cuisine, you can call this number 085778165786 (Kusmiyati).

Inspiration Greetings!