From Debt Trap to Guitar Maker: PNM Mekaar Helps Rini Rebuild Her Life and Family's Future
For Rini Sudarwanti, business is not only about earning an income. Behind the guitar business she now runs lies a long struggle to rise from hardship and provide a better life for her family.
2021 was one of the most difficult periods for Ibu Rini. Her cooked food business had few customers. Amid ongoing household needs, she became trapped by loan sharks. Daily debt collections left her living in fear.
“At that time I really felt the weight of it all. Business was slow, while the bills kept coming. I could only think about how to get out of the problem and get my business running again,” Ibu Rini recounted.
Amid these circumstances, PNM Mekaar became one of the pathways for Ibu Rini to recover. The financing she received was used as capital to rebuild her business.
Gradually, her business began to operate again. Ibu Rini then developed a handmade guitar craft business. Each guitar is carefully made using selected wood and has a distinctive character. From a business built little by little, she has now expanded by becoming a BRILink Mekaar agent.
Her journey with PNM did not stop at capital provision. Ibu Rini participated in various empowerment activities, such as business training, MSME exhibitions, and even made it into the top 50 of the Mekaarpreneur 2026 business incubation programme. These experiences made her more confident in developing her business.
“For me, PNM does not only provide capital. I also get the opportunity to learn and grow my business. I have become braver to try new things, more confident, and have the spirit to keep moving forward,” said Ibu Rini.
The change is now being felt not only in her business but also in her family life. In 2026, Ibu Rini’s child, who is still in senior high school, received a PNM Education Scholarship. For Ibu Rini, this opportunity brought happiness as well as a reminder that her struggle to build a business has a greater meaning.
She is not only working to improve life today but also preparing for her child’s future. “Now I am not only thinking about how to keep my business running. I also want my child to be able to study well and have a better future. That is what keeps me motivated,” said Ibu Rini.
With the spirit of #PNMuntukUMKM and #PNMPemberdayaanUMKM, Ibu Rini’s story illustrates that for ultra-micro entrepreneurs, capital is only the first step. After that, they need mentoring, knowledge, market access, and opportunities to develop their capabilities.
PNM President Director Kindaris said that Ibu Rini’s story shows that empowerment can have a broader impact when carried out sustainably.
“PNM does not only focus on providing financing, but also accompanies them so that their businesses grow, their families become stronger, and their children have the opportunity to achieve a better future,” he said.
Since joining as a PNM Mekaar customer in 2019, Ibu Rini has continued to grow. Her initial financing was Rp2 million, and now her financing ceiling has reached Rp8 million. From a mother who once lived under the pressure of debt, Ibu Rini now stands as an entrepreneur who continues to strive for growth.
Her journey serves as a simple reminder that sometimes what a person needs to change their life is not only the opportunity to obtain capital, but also someone who believes that they are capable of rising again.
For Ibu Rini, PNM was present on that journey. And today, every guitar she makes does not only generate economic value. Within it lies a story of courage to start again, of a family worth fighting for, and of hope that her child’s future can be better.