Empowered Women Programme Boosts Economic Independence

The Empowered Women (Perempuan Berdaya) programme, initiated by the Yayasan Indonesia Setara (YIS), continues to encourage the enhancement of women’s capacity and economic independence through entrepreneurship training based on local potential. YIS Founder, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, stated that the programme is designed to open business opportunities for women by utilising commodities commonly found in their surroundings.

One of the training sessions was held in Serang City, Banten, on 25 May 2026, in collaboration with Rumah Sandiuno Indonesia. In this activity, participants received training on processing bananas into value-added products.

According to Sandiaga, bananas were chosen as a commodity because the plant is one of the region’s leading potentials that holds opportunities for development into home-based business products. Participants were equipped with the skills to make ‘pisang sale’ and ‘banana coin’ snacks — banana-based treats that have a longer shelf life and a higher selling value compared to fresh fruit.

‘The results of the training showed a quite positive response from the participants,’ Sandiaga said in a press release in Jakarta on Thursday (11/6/2026). Within about three hours after the training, a number of participants successfully secured orders for a significant quantity of products.