Being Smart to Aim Job Opportunities
Monday, 25 November 2019by adminstube
What is in mind of Sumbanese youth when they were asked about Sumba? The answers are likely savanna, livestock, tourism and culture. These are standard answers, in fact, they need to be more critical in seeing the reality of world challenges with its competition and temptation of youth lifestyle, such as hedonism, instant lifestyle, smoking, drugs, free sex, low work ethic, etc. In fact, they sell their land easily to buy vehicles just for prestige without knowing its economic value, even do not continue their studies after high school and apply work outside of Sumba island as laborers. However, some others are fortunate to be able to continue their higher education in Sumba or outside of Sumba, such as Kupang, Malang, Salatiga and Yogyakarta.
The data from BPS East Sumba 2019 illustrated the population aged 15 years and over, in which the main activity of 168.865 people is consisting of 128.308 people working, 1.852 people not working/looking for work, and 38.705 people are not the workforce because they are at school, taking care of households and others. It is interesting how to equip a group of young people to have economically valuable skills while studying that can improve their welfare. Stube-HEMAT Sumba responded to this challenge by conducting a training on Youth, Work and Other Alternatives at PPMT guesthouse, Lewa, East Sumba (22-24/11/2019) through personal capacity building, productive skills and attention to local conditions.
Thirty-two students from Theology College (STT) Terpadu, Wira Wacana Christian University, Theology College (STT) of Sumba Christian Church and church youth took part in the training that began with Introduction of Stube-HEMAT by Rev. Dominggus Umbu Deta, S.Th, the coordinator of Stube-HEMAT Sumba. He said that Stube is God's blessing from the offerings of churches in Germany and since 2008 serving students and young people in Sumba, so we must be grateful and diligent in participating in its programs including three participants of Exposure program to Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta who shared their learning experiences in Yogyakarta about growing vegetables, processing local food, making ‘colet batik’ and ecoprint and arranging accessories from beads and presenting videos as product of photography and videomaking. This program gives Sumba students opportunity to learn and do activities at Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta because by visiting other places and interact with people with different cultures, languages and ways of life these will enrich them in understanding people and life.
The current phenomenon of Sumbanese youth is that they tend to be instant rather than doing process of achieving results by looking for work outside Sumba island, such as to Bali that is considered to provide more promising job vacancies, but in fact they do not think that they also face hard competition there, and forced back to Sumba with no results, besides another threat of human trafficking because of the temptation of work abroad without sufficient skills. It was revealed by Drs. Banju Ndakumanung, Lewa sub-district head, he also offered alternatives in Lewa with its potency of livestock and agriculture as business base that can be developed creatively by applying technology into food products, crafts, agriculture supportings and other products. Even the sub-district government with the Manpower office of East Sumba regency has carried out life skills training for young people to create new opportunities and jobs.
The strategy to start local-based business was revealed by Florensius B.D.U Wijaya, a businessman in Lewa engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and plantations that utilizes creativity and modern technology. The main capital to start a business is strong will and not to be easy to give up, equipped with knowledge and skills that are available on internet. Challenges exist but we should be sure and optimistic that we will produce something good for our lives. He reminded that any capital can start a business, clear goal as the direction of business and do not be bothered by pessimistic opinion from others. Don't forget to understand what is needed by market, observe what is the current trend by providing products that respond to these needs and to take advantage of technology, social media and various communities of young people to promote the products.
Regarding to millennial generation 4.0, Ev. Yosua Bulu Pada, S.Th, the PPMT manager, emphasized that millenial generation is those who are open-minded, creative, innovative, has entrepreneurial spirit, and adaptable with modern era. We cannot say no to technological developments because this is the reality, so we must be able to compete in mastery of technology that can be utilized in various aspects of life. Not just using technology for communication but also enrich knowledge and economy. As practical provision he worked with the participants to make taro chips and turmeric drinks, curcuma and ginger. These ingredients are easily found at the house yards and containing nutritious substance for health even economic value when they are marketed with a variety of flavors.
At the end of the training Rev. Dominggus reminded the participants that youth is actually in a productive period so that they should have positive creativity that bring good change, be tough in business, be ready to be a leader, be critical and be smart in building their own potency and be wisely utilizing technology. Idealism is important, but it needs to be realistic and make it happen because idealists are not only in mind but also actions according to the situation and condition of the community, so that they will be accepted by society.
Soni Kauki Ndala, a student at Unkriswina from Umamanu, Lewa Tidahu district expressed his gratitude for Stube-HEMAT activities because it contacts directly with real life and can be done by young people.
The learning opportunity to improve quality of young people have been available and a variety of local potency and business start-up strategies have been revealed, next how young people respond by preparing themselves and being smart to target work opportunities that are useful for themselves and the community where they live. Young people of Sumba, are you ready? (TRU).