WEST SINJAI, SOUTH SULAWESI — Dompet Dhuafa South Sulawesi in collaboration with PLN Peduli officially launched the Desa Berdaya Program in Arabika Village, West Sinjai District, Sinjai Regency. This program was enthusiastically welcomed by the local community, because it provides new hope for the development of a more independent and prosperous village.
The launch, which took place on Tuesday (5/12/2024), was attended by a number of important figures, including Andi Tenri Rawe Baso as the Expert Staff for Economy and Development of Sinjai Regency who was present representing the Regent of Sinjai. Also present were Harianto, Head of Arabika Village; Tri Udhi Kurniawan, 1st Deputy Director of Dompet Dhuafa’s Empowerment Program; Andi Murniawati, Senior Manager of Planning at PLN UIP3B Makassar; and Pandu Heru Satrio, Branch Manager of Dompet Dhuafa South Sulawesi. In addition, the presence of local community leaders also enlivened the event.
The Desa Berdaya program aims to empower the community through economic strengthening, MSME development, human resource capacity building, and infrastructure development. The Desa Berdaya area will be equipped with various facilities such as a coffee processing center, drying area, cafe, musala, and other facilities that support the sustainability of the program.
In his speech, Harianto expressed his gratitude to PLN Peduli and Dompet Dhuafa for their contribution in empowering the village community.
“We hope that Arabica Village can become a model for other villages, and be recognized as one of the leading coffee producers in South Sulawesi,” he said.
Furthermore, Tri Udhi Kurniawan explained the importance of regenerating farmers in Indonesia.
“The younger generation is increasingly reluctant to enter the agricultural sector, even though the majority of farmers in Indonesia have limited land. With this program, we hope to improve the welfare of the community while maintaining the sustainability of agriculture in the village,” he said.
Andi Murniawati from PLN UIP 3B Makassar also expressed her hope that Desa Berdaya will not only focus on economic aspects, but also cover education, health, and community development as a whole.
“We believe that the success of this program will have a significant impact on Arabika Village and its people,” she said.
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Andi Tenri Rawe Baso, representing the Regent of Sinjai, emphasized the importance of synergy between the government, humanitarian agencies, and the community.
“The Desa Berdaya program is expected to be a driving force for development in other villages, especially in Sinjai Regency,” he said.
Ramly Usman, one of the program beneficiaries, expressed his gratitude for the launch of this program.
“This program really helps us as coffee farmers. We hope that through Desa Berdaya, our yields can be optimized, local MSME products can be upgraded, and community income can increase,” he said.
Through the Desa Berdaya Program, Dompet Dhuafa South Sulawesi and PLN Peduli are committed to continuing to support the development of village potential in a sustainable manner. This program is also in line with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), creating a long-term positive impact on the people of Arabika Village. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: DD South Sulawesi, Syafira
Editor: Ronna