Kebumen Golden Village Programme Empowers Economy and Creates Jobs
Dozens of residents participating in the Desa EMAS (Ekonomi Maju dan Sejahtera / Advanced and Prosperous Economy) 2026 Programme in Kebumen have been empowered through training in the creation of innovative products with economic value to improve their welfare.
The initiative, spearheaded by the INOTEK Foundation and Yayasan Indonesia Setara (YIS), was held at the Lajer Village Hall in Ambal sub-district, Kebumen regency, Central Java, on 16–17 January 2026.
The event was attended by 37 micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) practitioners in the handicrafts sector, marking the commencement of the Desa EMAS 2026 programme in Kebumen.
The activity was intended to provide education and practical experience in the craft of making banana stalk handicrafts through workshops, with the aim of increasing income opportunities for village communities, particularly in the villages of Lajer, Pagedangan and Sinungrejo.
The Desa EMAS programme series will be accompanied by six months of mentoring.
Sandiaga Uno, founder of Yayasan Indonesia Setara, explained that the programme sought to empower rural economies and create employment through skills-based training that could be replicated across other villages.
The Head of Kebumen Regency's Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and SME Agency (Disperindag KUKM), Haryono Wahyudi, described Desa EMAS as an outstanding programme that is highly relevant for implementation in Kebumen regency. He noted that the district has 449 villages with significant potential for development, and that the Kebumen regency government stands ready to provide full support through collaboration with the National Crafts Council (Dekranasda) and various Disperindag work programmes.
The programme applies the One Village One Product concept, focusing on developing local potential to drive self-reliant village economic growth.
The initiative, spearheaded by the INOTEK Foundation and Yayasan Indonesia Setara (YIS), was held at the Lajer Village Hall in Ambal sub-district, Kebumen regency, Central Java, on 16–17 January 2026.
The event was attended by 37 micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) practitioners in the handicrafts sector, marking the commencement of the Desa EMAS 2026 programme in Kebumen.
The activity was intended to provide education and practical experience in the craft of making banana stalk handicrafts through workshops, with the aim of increasing income opportunities for village communities, particularly in the villages of Lajer, Pagedangan and Sinungrejo.
The Desa EMAS programme series will be accompanied by six months of mentoring.
Sandiaga Uno, founder of Yayasan Indonesia Setara, explained that the programme sought to empower rural economies and create employment through skills-based training that could be replicated across other villages.
The Head of Kebumen Regency's Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and SME Agency (Disperindag KUKM), Haryono Wahyudi, described Desa EMAS as an outstanding programme that is highly relevant for implementation in Kebumen regency. He noted that the district has 449 villages with significant potential for development, and that the Kebumen regency government stands ready to provide full support through collaboration with the National Crafts Council (Dekranasda) and various Disperindag work programmes.
The programme applies the One Village One Product concept, focusing on developing local potential to drive self-reliant village economic growth.