Sep 27, 2018 – Working with the support of USAID, Prestasi Junior Indonesia has just completed an 18-month pilot phase of the USAID JAPRI workforce development project focusing on the poor and vulnerable living in the regency of Trenggalek, East Java. The initiative was a huge success with 77 new businesses now operating in the Regency having generated revenue of almost USD100,000 over the last 7 months. These new businesses are diverse and include hydroponics, coffee, fashion, and tusuk satay – all are owned and operated by young people from the region (55 females and 22 males). In celebration of this achievement, Bapak Dr. Emil Elestianto Dardak, Regent, and Bapak Mochammad Nur Arifin, Vice Regent, Mariana Cernei from USAID Indonesia and Andrew Kelly from the US Consulate General Surabaya attended a culminating celebration with all beneficiaries on the 27th September.
The ‘take-up’ of this opportunity by young people within the region was beyond Prestasi Junior’s expectations. An 86% success rate from the original 90 selected candidates points to the success well-defined and applicable strategies employed to map, select, train and support business owners. Importantly, support from local government was of great value and will continue to be so as the company’s progress and build their enterprises. The mobilization of a committed team of Prestasi Junior Indonesia coaches was a key to the success of USAID JAPRI as these five individuals provided support in the form of knowledge transfer and networking and were also great motivators.
Prestasi Junior looks forward to continued success of business operations in Trenggalek and looks forward to applying this model in support of improving the overall well-being of additional communities in Indonesia.