The UMY Team Empowers PPR Kerinchi through Ecoprint Pounding Technique Training

Prof. Dr. Endah Saptutyningsih, M.Si., and Romi Bhakti Hartarto, PhD., lecturers in the Economics Program, Faculty of Economics and Business, along with Berli Paripurna Kamiel, Ph.D., lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia, have conducted an international Community Service Program (PPM) to enhance the capacity of partner groups through training in ecoprint production using the Pounding Technique. The target group of this international PPM is PPR Kerinchi, Malaysia, which is a community of poor recipients of assistance from the Malaysian government. PPR Kerinchi receives guidance from the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia.
"With the improvement of the skills of PPR Kerinchi members, economic activities in their region can be enhanced. Indirectly, this activity can improve the well-being of the community, especially PPR Kerinchi members, by selling their ecoprint products to the wider community," said Endah in Yogyakarta on Saturday (30/12/2023).
Endah explained that this international PPM has the title "Sustainable Craft Product for Achieving Green Economy: Eco-Print Training Using Pounding Technique." Its goal is to develop the skills of PPR Kerinchi group members, Malaysia, by utilizing the natural potential in their surrounding areas through creative economics. Furthermore, Endah explained that, based on local wisdom, efforts are made to use natural potential to increase community income.
"By using the relatively easy-to-learn Pounding Technique, ecoprint production can create job opportunities for the community and increase their income. Additionally, it provides innovative ideas for new businesses and employment opportunities," said Endah. Currently, the community is not fully utilizing the natural potential in their surroundings, and there is a lack of skills in managing the existing potential. This prompted the UMY Team to undertake this international PPM activity. The community is also expected not to rely solely on government assistance to support their families but to apply their skills to produce ecoprint products that are of high quality and market value to support their family's economic conditions.
This International Community Service Program (PPM) activity is funded by LPM UMY. "The hope is that this activity can serve as a reference for other community groups in enhancing the community's capacity to utilize the potential of their region, thus improving the well-being of the community," Endah concluded.