Finding employment at 50
Sianny Christianto, 50, was worried about her career prospects. She had previously only ever worked in an office environment, but, because of her age, she was finding it hard to find a job. Sianny was worried about her future.
Despite progress, a persistent gender gap
Sianny was not alone in the challenges she faced – according to recent data published by the International Labour Organization, participation of women in the labour force is lower than men’s in most countries.
From out of work to entrepreneur
To earn money while looking for full-time office work, Sianny decided to employ some of the skills she had developed in the kitchen over her lifetime.
Starting with a simple dish, surabi, a Balinese pancake consisting of rice flour and coconut milk, Sianny realized that she could use the knowledge and competences that she already possessed to launch her own business, selling homemade patisserie.
Sianny was hopeful that her business would thrive but knew she would need help to make it grow.
Kartu Prakerja Programme's training course changed everything
Unsure of how to build her business, Sianny was excited to hear about an initiative launched by the Indonesian Government in 2020 aimed at developing the competences and improving the employability of the local workforce through skilling, reskilling and upskilling programmes.
The Kartu Prakerja Programme is available to Indonesian citizens aged 18 and over who are not enrolled in formal education. Beneficiaries can choose from various training categories, such as ICT, marketing, finance and catering. Once they have completed their training, participants receive a certificate and are entitled to receive post-training incentives.
Sianny joined a Kartu Prakerja course on baking, which helped her grow her business and her confidence.
Expanding through new-found skills
Through the Kartu Prakerja Programme, Sianny also learned new skills that enabled her to diversify her business, such as communication and marketing.
Together with local farmers, she looked into types of produce that could be grown cost-effectively, comparing her findings with nearby farming communities.
By working collaboratively, Sianny and her team discovered that, better than the chillies they were struggling to cultivate, Brazilian spinach – which thrives in Indonesia’s humid climate – would provide them with a larger harvest at a fraction of the cost.
A bumper crop
Sianny and her farming community can now produce an array of healthy foods to sell, including spinach chips, spinach noodles and spinach pizzas.
"They gave me hope"
Sianny credits the Kartu Prakerja Programme with giving her the opportunity and the confidence to develop and expand her business, benefitting not just her own livelihood but the whole community’s.
A community of lifelong learners
Today, as a ‘foodpreneur’, Sianny no longer worries about her age holding her back. Her business is thriving and, just as importantly, her drive and passion have inspired others in her community to be lifelong learners.
The Prakerja Programme
The Kartu Prakerja Programme represents a concrete milestone for the Indonesian Government in supporting UNESCO’s mission to promote adult learning and education.
While building a lifelong learning culture is not an easy task, it is an important mission that aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Through this initiative, which is aligned with Indonesian President Jokowi’s 2019 campaign promise to provide access for skilling, upskilling and reskilling, the country has taken a step forward in creating access for its citizens to lifelong learning opportunities that will allow them to qualify for better job opportunities and contribute to society.
More about the Kartu Prakerja Programme
More about the work of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning
