Central Lombok, The Indonesia Herald – Invest Islands Foundation proudly launched the Bamboo Craft Workshop on Friday, February 14, 2025, in Montong Ajan Village, Praya Barat Daya District, Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. This program aims to empower local village youth through skills training in processing used bamboo into high-value craft products that can be marketed in local and international markets. This workshop is expected to not only provide economic benefits for participants, but also support environmental sustainability efforts by reducing existing bamboo waste.
Bamboo, which is abundant in Montong Ajan, is often overlooked and becomes waste. Although bamboo is a natural material that is easy to grow and available in abundance, much of the economic potential of this material has not been optimally utilized. Through this workshop, Invest Islands Foundation seeks to transform used bamboo into crafts that have high marketability, while creating new economic opportunities for the local community.
The Bamboo Craft Workshop program teaches participants various practical skills in processing bamboo, from cutting techniques, drying, to making products such as household furniture, accessories, and decorations. The young men and women receive direct training from experienced tutors, so that participants can master these skills well.
In the future, this workshop will run for the next month which will not only focus on technical skills, but also on the entrepreneurial aspect. Participants are taught how to market their bamboo craft products effectively, both in the local market and through digital platforms, so that they can earn income from their crafts. In addition, this program also emphasizes the importance of sustainability by using bamboo raw materials efficiently, reducing waste, and producing environmentally friendly goods.
Invest Islands Foundation hopes that this workshop can have a long-term impact on young people in Montong Ajan Village, creating sustainable economic opportunities and introducing bamboo as a high-value raw material. This program also aims to preserve traditional bamboo crafts, by combining classic techniques with modern innovations, which allows the resulting bamboo products to be more attractive and competitive in the global market.
Through this program, the Invest Islands Foundation not only helps improve the skills of the Montong Ajan Village community, but also makes a real contribution to the local economy and environmental sustainability. By empowering youth through relevant skills training and implementing sustainable practices, it is hoped that the local community can become more independent and able to build a brighter future.
This workshop is the first step in a series of larger programs that will continue to grow in the future. The Invest Islands Foundation plans to expand the reach of this program to other villages in Lombok, as well as establish partnerships with various parties to market bamboo craft products to a wider market. Thus, participants can continue to benefit from this training and help drive a creative economy based on sustainability in NTB.
This Bamboo Craft Workshop program not only provides skills and economic opportunities, but also raises awareness of the importance of sustainable natural resource management. By utilizing bamboo as an environmentally friendly material, this program is one of the concrete steps in realizing a greener and more sustainable future for Montong Ajan Village and the NTB community in general.
Invest Islands Foundation hopes that this training will have a great positive impact on the participants, as well as pave the way for the creation of sustainable and environmentally friendly business opportunities in Lombok. With a commitment to community empowerment and sustainability, this program is a real example of how a community can turn challenges into opportunities for a better future.