Posdaya Kenanga is Very Popular Locally and Internationally
Posdaya Kenanga is located on Situ Gede Village, West Bogor District, Bogor. Since its establishment in 2010, Posdaya Kenanga has become the reference or training centre for other Posdayas from the other districts or cities. Because of the many accomplishments it has achieved, this Posdaya has attracted several universities in Japan. It was explained by Sulikan, Chief of Posdaya Kenanga in front of a group of Observation Study Tour (OST) when the group visited Posdaya Kenanga, Situ Gede village, on 22 October 2014.
The OST group who were consisted of 100 students from various universities such as STP Perikanan, Bogor, UNTAG, Surabaya, STAI Muara Bungo, Jambi, University of Alkhaerat, Palu, and Unmuh Ternate. The group visited Posdaya Sejahtera, Bubulak, Posdaya Posdaya Kenanga, Situ Gede village, and Posdaya Al Barokah, Bantarjaya village, Bogor Regency.
"On February 2015, 15 students from Japan will come to visit us. Their visit to Posdaya Kenanga will be to do some activities similar to our University Field Works or KKN. One program I have proposed to be put in their activities will be garbage and the environmental management, "said Sulikan.
"Constraints at the beginning when we establish Posdaya was from our own community. Most people do not know and understand the objectives of Posdaya. After learning through workshops and getting clear information from team Posdaya of IPB, finally they are aware and willing to participate in the Posdaya establishment," he added.
Sulikan told the group that at the beginning they were given Rp. 800.000,- (eight hundred thousand Rp) only as the initial capital. Their willingness and sincerity as well as the motto they affirmed that funds would come if they make achievements, finally Sulikan assisted by other Posdaya cadres successfully managed to improve the welfare of Situ Gede citizens through Posdaya. The achievements they made in the community economic are the establishment of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and Koperasi Tabur Puja.
"MFI Sharia is open for public, when people apply loan for Rp. 200.000,- (two hundred thousand Rp.) they should pay back Rp. 200.000,- (two hundred thousand Rp). Whereas for cooperative, it charges 1.5% (percent) interest. So far they have distributed capitals amounted to Rp. 450.000.000,- (four hundred and fifty thousand million Rp.) to assist the communities to improve their family economy, "he added.
The Head of Human Resources Development (P2SDM) of IPB, Dr. Pudji Mulyono said, "As founder of Posdaya the P2SDM IPB, we hope that this achievement can be replicated by OST participants. Through Damandiri Foundation, IPB has become a regional coordinator for the 10 partner universities in the development Posdaya."
"Posdaya is essentially a system of mutual assistance in the development of the community which is assisted by university. IPB Assistances are provided in each activity, and every activity is always related and supervised by the expertise of the faculty members of IPB, "he concluded. (Wied).
