Removing Stigma: Special Needs School in Bekasi Trains Students in Entrepreneurship During Ramadhan

Bekasi – Several students from SLB Kembar Karya Pembangunan III, a special needs school, have taken advantage of the Ramadhan period by selling various foods and beverages on Komodo Raya Street, South Bekasi District, Bekasi City.

The school initiated this activity not merely to fill time during the fasting month, but as an effort to change public perception of students attending special needs schools (SLB).

School Principal Vivi Sukmawati, 53, stated that the programme aims to demonstrate that SLB students possess capabilities no different from other children of their age.

According to Vivi, public response has gradually shown growing enthusiasm. Whilst the stall initially attracted sparse customers, an increasing number of residents now deliberately visit to support the initiative.

“After they learned that SLB children were selling the products, they became very enthusiastic about helping the children here,” she said.

Vivi revealed that this programme is the school’s first Ramadhan entrepreneurship activity this year.

“We opened this stall from the beginning of the fasting period and it has been running until now,” she explained.

She added that the activity was initially planned to run for only two weeks.

“However, if the children remain very enthusiastic, God willing, we will extend it for a full month,” she stated.

Vivi emphasised that the initiative has a long-term objective: to equip students with the ability to become self-sufficient after graduating.

“We want them to be able to create their own employment opportunities. The idea is fundamentally to train the children’s independence,” she said.

All products sold are student creations. They are involved from the beginning, ranging from purchasing ingredients at markets, food preparation, to marketing their goods.

“All food and beverages sold here are made by the students themselves, naturally under teacher supervision,” Vivi concluded.