Irma Suryati experienced paralysis at the age of 4 years due to polio. His life into adulthood is a long, struggling story. Irma who is married Agus Priyanto, who is also a handicapped leg, has proved that as plain as hope, there is always a gap that can bring blessings and opportunities in the future.
The couple managed to build a business of handmade mats with the capital of waste fabrics. Their business has now been exported to several countries, and they now have 2,500 craftsmen and 150 of them are disabled.
Irma has received many awards, such as Young Entrepreneur of Teladan from Ministry of Youth and Sports (2007), Achieving Women 2008 from Kebumen Regent (2008), and Award from Jaiki Japan, specially for disabled people.
At first…
Since the baby, Irma Suryati has suffered withered feet. The cause is the Polio virus. Although still able to run normally until high school (SMA), Irma legs easily weak. "If knocked, immediately fell," said the woman was born in Semarang, January 1, 1975.
From that moment on, his father told Irma, using a walking stick to this day. The condition of the foot is what drives Irma to do something meaningful for himself and others. After graduating from SMAN 1 in Semarang, Irma tried to make a doormat from a patchwork, a simple object to clean the soles of the feet.
"I'm trying to make a doormat out of the garment fabric leftover," Irma said. Incidentally, near his home in Semarang there are many remaining garment industry fabrics. The remnant fabric he sewed into various mats.
Initially, the mat was made only for his own needs. Gradually, his work began ogled neighbors. Small market began to take shape. The decision to become a mat musician more and more unanimous when he married Agus Priyanto, a disabled person who good at painting. They agreed to open a small business of making a doormat in 1999. At that time, Irma and Agus assisted 5 employees.
As their business began to grow, Irma felt no longer free to run a business in the home of her parents. In 2002, the young couple decided to move to Kebumen, Agus's hometown. They bought a house on Jalan Karang Bolong kilometer 7, Karangsari Village, Buayan District, Kebumen. From that house Irma controlled his business.
Irma did not want to make a fuss. He established a legal entity named Mutiara Dagang Usaha Business. She also established the Center for Small and Medium-sized People with Disabilities. "Initially it was very difficult to organize people," said Irma.
But Irma is a figure who will not budge on the situation. He came to the people from house to house to encourage housewives to be productive by teaching them to make a doormat. "Women now have to be economically empowered," he said.
Reap Results
Irma also had to bear the cynicism and scorn of those who saw the effort with one eye, especially when they saw Irma's legs are defective, but Irma was not discouraged. The results began to appear. He managed to invite some housewives to learn to make a doormat. When they are skilled, they get supplies of raw materials and sewing machines from Irma.
As people began to realize about the benefits of Irma's skills, the interest of being a mat was not unstoppable. Irma set up a savings and loan cooperative in 2003 to accommodate the 1,600-man-built economy of the doormat.
Members of this doormat cooperative spread across 11 districts in Kebumen. Irma also uses the family welfare counseling network (PKK). Finally, this doormat business extends to Banyumas and Solo. Irma even took the group of transvestites and commercial sex workers in Purwokerto. As a result, 20 transvestites and commercial sex workers can open outlets in Limas Agung housing estate, Purwokerto.
Every month, craftsmen get remittance of fabric waste as raw material. Irma brings in 10 tons of cloth from Semarang every month. Monthly turnover can reach USD 40-50 million.
For marketing strategy, Irma relies on 15 sellers. In addition, he also entrusted his products in several outlets spread across many cities. One of them is at the showroommilik Ministry of Youth and Sports in Jakarta. Incidentally, Irma often met with the Minister, Adyaksa Dault.
"I was also invited by Menpora at the time, Mr. Adhyaksa Dault to Melbourne, Australia representing Indonesia in the craft exhibition. Though the exhibition is actually for the public, not the disabled. It's really proud because we are disabled with the equivalent of normal people, "he said.
Export Products
In addition to marketing products in the country, Irma also markets it abroad, namely Austarlia, Germany, Japan, and Turkey. "So far still use the services of others. In the future, I want to export it myself to be more profitable, "said Irma.
Irma holds meetings every three months to maintain the quality of its products. The forum was followed by the coordinator of each sub-district. In addition to discussing product quality, he also introduced new innovations of handicrafts.
Currently, Irma produces 42 kinds of doormats. Some are elliptical, animal, or flower. In the market, the mats are sold Rp 15 thousand for domestic consumers, and Rp 35 thousand for overseas consumers.
Success makes the doormat does not necessarily make the mother of five nak this ongkang-ongkang feet. He and his friends continue to develop other crafts, such as making a tissue box from the stick. "There are Turks who order them," Irma said.
Now Irma make design mat prayer mats from pandan. Incidentally, in Kebumen many pandanus craftsmen who have not been able to make crafts with raw materials pine matting. "Whereas if formed into a craft, the selling price will increase," said Irma.
Ironically, Irma's followers came mostly from outside his village. Even many people do not know Irma, even though they live in the same village. "Oh, that handicapped person is it?" Said one of Irma's neighbors when asked by Tempo.
As a disabled person, Irma is not a whiny person. "Disability is not an obstacle to work," he said. Irma admitted often sad to see the disabled people who are still discriminated, especially those who want to become civil servants. That's why Irma decided to open his own job. "I plan to build a factory behind the house, especially for people with disabilities," said Irma.
Future plan
Irma is now building a rear house with a size of about 7 m x 9 m. Although relatively small, but the almost finished house will be used to accommodate people with disabilities. They will work and be given a place to stay.
"We are preparing a place for people with disabilities whose homes are far away. If you want to stay, please, but the place is also simple like this. Here can be a business center for people with disabilities. My intention is how disabled people can be more creative and they can be independent. It will directly elevate the dignity of the disabled and change the views of society if people with disabilities can only begging by being beggars, "he said.
The couple managed to build a business of handmade mats with the capital of waste fabrics. Their business has now been exported to several countries, and they now have 2,500 craftsmen and 150 of them are disabled.
Irma has received many awards, such as Young Entrepreneur of Teladan from Ministry of Youth and Sports (2007), Achieving Women 2008 from Kebumen Regent (2008), and Award from Jaiki Japan, specially for disabled people.
At first…
Since the baby, Irma Suryati has suffered withered feet. The cause is the Polio virus. Although still able to run normally until high school (SMA), Irma legs easily weak. "If knocked, immediately fell," said the woman was born in Semarang, January 1, 1975.
From that moment on, his father told Irma, using a walking stick to this day. The condition of the foot is what drives Irma to do something meaningful for himself and others. After graduating from SMAN 1 in Semarang, Irma tried to make a doormat from a patchwork, a simple object to clean the soles of the feet.
"I'm trying to make a doormat out of the garment fabric leftover," Irma said. Incidentally, near his home in Semarang there are many remaining garment industry fabrics. The remnant fabric he sewed into various mats.
Initially, the mat was made only for his own needs. Gradually, his work began ogled neighbors. Small market began to take shape. The decision to become a mat musician more and more unanimous when he married Agus Priyanto, a disabled person who good at painting. They agreed to open a small business of making a doormat in 1999. At that time, Irma and Agus assisted 5 employees.
As their business began to grow, Irma felt no longer free to run a business in the home of her parents. In 2002, the young couple decided to move to Kebumen, Agus's hometown. They bought a house on Jalan Karang Bolong kilometer 7, Karangsari Village, Buayan District, Kebumen. From that house Irma controlled his business.
Irma did not want to make a fuss. He established a legal entity named Mutiara Dagang Usaha Business. She also established the Center for Small and Medium-sized People with Disabilities. "Initially it was very difficult to organize people," said Irma.
But Irma is a figure who will not budge on the situation. He came to the people from house to house to encourage housewives to be productive by teaching them to make a doormat. "Women now have to be economically empowered," he said.
Reap Results
Irma also had to bear the cynicism and scorn of those who saw the effort with one eye, especially when they saw Irma's legs are defective, but Irma was not discouraged. The results began to appear. He managed to invite some housewives to learn to make a doormat. When they are skilled, they get supplies of raw materials and sewing machines from Irma.
As people began to realize about the benefits of Irma's skills, the interest of being a mat was not unstoppable. Irma set up a savings and loan cooperative in 2003 to accommodate the 1,600-man-built economy of the doormat.
Members of this doormat cooperative spread across 11 districts in Kebumen. Irma also uses the family welfare counseling network (PKK). Finally, this doormat business extends to Banyumas and Solo. Irma even took the group of transvestites and commercial sex workers in Purwokerto. As a result, 20 transvestites and commercial sex workers can open outlets in Limas Agung housing estate, Purwokerto.
Every month, craftsmen get remittance of fabric waste as raw material. Irma brings in 10 tons of cloth from Semarang every month. Monthly turnover can reach USD 40-50 million.
For marketing strategy, Irma relies on 15 sellers. In addition, he also entrusted his products in several outlets spread across many cities. One of them is at the showroommilik Ministry of Youth and Sports in Jakarta. Incidentally, Irma often met with the Minister, Adyaksa Dault.
"I was also invited by Menpora at the time, Mr. Adhyaksa Dault to Melbourne, Australia representing Indonesia in the craft exhibition. Though the exhibition is actually for the public, not the disabled. It's really proud because we are disabled with the equivalent of normal people, "he said.
Export Products
In addition to marketing products in the country, Irma also markets it abroad, namely Austarlia, Germany, Japan, and Turkey. "So far still use the services of others. In the future, I want to export it myself to be more profitable, "said Irma.
Irma holds meetings every three months to maintain the quality of its products. The forum was followed by the coordinator of each sub-district. In addition to discussing product quality, he also introduced new innovations of handicrafts.
Currently, Irma produces 42 kinds of doormats. Some are elliptical, animal, or flower. In the market, the mats are sold Rp 15 thousand for domestic consumers, and Rp 35 thousand for overseas consumers.
Success makes the doormat does not necessarily make the mother of five nak this ongkang-ongkang feet. He and his friends continue to develop other crafts, such as making a tissue box from the stick. "There are Turks who order them," Irma said.
Now Irma make design mat prayer mats from pandan. Incidentally, in Kebumen many pandanus craftsmen who have not been able to make crafts with raw materials pine matting. "Whereas if formed into a craft, the selling price will increase," said Irma.
Ironically, Irma's followers came mostly from outside his village. Even many people do not know Irma, even though they live in the same village. "Oh, that handicapped person is it?" Said one of Irma's neighbors when asked by Tempo.
As a disabled person, Irma is not a whiny person. "Disability is not an obstacle to work," he said. Irma admitted often sad to see the disabled people who are still discriminated, especially those who want to become civil servants. That's why Irma decided to open his own job. "I plan to build a factory behind the house, especially for people with disabilities," said Irma.
Future plan
Irma is now building a rear house with a size of about 7 m x 9 m. Although relatively small, but the almost finished house will be used to accommodate people with disabilities. They will work and be given a place to stay.
"We are preparing a place for people with disabilities whose homes are far away. If you want to stay, please, but the place is also simple like this. Here can be a business center for people with disabilities. My intention is how disabled people can be more creative and they can be independent. It will directly elevate the dignity of the disabled and change the views of society if people with disabilities can only begging by being beggars, "he said.
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