Dec 12, 2013
OISCA initiated the construction of the cooperative shop named “WOMAN” to market the products made by the village mothers who are the beneficiaries of the Women`s Empowerment Project funded by Ajinomoto Corporation Japan that started in 2011.
WOMAN, an acronym for “Wanita Motekar Mandiri” which means independent woman was inaugurated on the 28th of August this year. Witnessed by Mr. Yutaka Nakagaki, village officials and leader of the mother`s group, Mr. Rizki Indrawan of Ajinomoto Indonesia Group cut the jasmine ribbon as part of the shop`s opening ceremony. It was also attended by all staff of the training center, trainees and recipients of the project.
Prior to the construction of the cooperative shop, the village mothers learned food processing and organic agriculture at OISCA Sukabumi Training Center. As part of the women empowerment project, they were also given lectures on cooperative management since the shop will be managed by them.
Facing the road often used by the domestic tourists heading to Pelabuhan Ratu Coast, the shop is strategically located at the entrance of OISCA Sukabumi Training Center in Java Island. Managed by two women assigned on rotation, the shop showcases an assortment of processed foods like banana chips, crackers, and confectionaries as well as agricultural products like chili, tomatoes, melon and sweet potatoes.
Through the cooperative shop, the village mothers who were used to be confined in doing plain household chores, raising children and limited temporary farming jobs could gain their own income and thus improving their welfare. Other than this, the shop also helps in the promotion of the area`s specialty foods.
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