Jambi, October 20, 2022 – First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, accompanied by Mrs. Wury Ma’ruf Amin, officially inaugurated the 2022 Tekun Tenun Indonesia Entrepreneurial Skills Program (PKW), a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) and the National Craft Council (Dekranas) in Jambi (October 20). As part of the joint visit of OASE Kabinet Indonesia Maju, this event marks the start of the PKW Tekun Tenun Indonesia 2022 learning program for 1,000 students and was also attended virtually by six hosting provincial Dekranasda, namely Jambi, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sumatra, and South Sumatra.

To officially inaugurate the program, the First Lady led the beating of the kompangan, a traditional Jambi tambourine, alongside Dekranas officials and Kemendikbudristek leaders. She also witnessed the ceremonial awarding of participation badges to representatives of the 2022 PKW Tekun Tenun Indonesia students by Jambi Governor’s wife, Hesnidar Al Haris, who serves as the Chairperson of the Jambi Provincial Dekranasda.

In her speech, Hesnidar stated, "It is an honor for us, Dekranasda Jambi, to host the 2022 PKW Tekun Tenun Indonesia program to encourage the regeneration of Jambi’s weavers and ensure the preservation of Jambi’s traditional weaving.”

Meanwhile, Kemendikbudristek Secretary General Suharti, in her report, mentioned, "The PKW program organized by the Directorate of Courses and Training is designed to incorporate and consider local elements, developing vocational skills tailored to local potential, and providing opportunities for institutions accessing the PKW program to collaborate with local MSMEs.”

Suharti added that the 2022 PKW Tekun Tenun Indonesia program follows previous initiatives, such as the 2021 PKW Tekun Tenun NTT and the 2020 PKW Priority Tourism Destinations program. This collaboration aims to foster new entrepreneurs while preserving Indonesia’s cultural heritage by training out-of-school and unemployed youth in local craft skills as part of vocational training.

"Beyond product creation skills, participants are also trained to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and attitude, enabling them to establish startup businesses guided directly by textile industry and MSME artisans,” Suharti explained.

This year, 25 hosting districts/cities will train 1,000 students in weaving skills.

Suharti further stated that Kemendikbudristek has designed a 250-hour curriculum tailored to industry and market needs, providing looms and weaving materials as startup capital. "We hope that upon completing the program, participants will be fully capable of independently producing and marketing their woven products with support from their local Dekranasda,” Suharti concluded.