The COVID-19 pandemic in the world and in Indonesia is still unpredictable as to when it will end. Even health experts around the world and the WHO have revealed that they have now discovered new mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, named the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, and Kappa variants.
The development of these variants has caused panic among the public due to the increasing number of infections and deaths.
This has triggered the government to implement national policies to suppress and prevent the further spread of the virus by imposing emergency measures in the country, including the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM).
The pandemic and various policies that have restricted people’s movements for an extended period of time have had an impact on the economy. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in various sectors are no exception. They are required to survive during the pandemic by implementing various breakthroughs and strategies.
One of the MSMEs that has felt the impact is the artisans in Kampung Rajut Binong Jati, Bandung City. They are trying to overcome the problems they face and survive the impact of the pandemic.
The problems they face include difficulties in utilizing social media to introduce and market their knitted products to the general public. In addition, their business financial reports are still prepared traditionally and mixed with family finances and financial management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to these challenges, Widyatama University, through its community service activities (PKM), has stepped in to provide solutions by offering online training to the SME practitioners of Binong Jati Knitting Village. The training was conducted on July 31, 2021.
The activity was carried out by each cluster consisting of lecturers from Widyatama University, led by Neneng Susanti S.MB., M.M.
Regarding the PKM, Neneng explained that even though the training was conducted online (Zoom), it had a positive impact on MSME participants engaged in knitting businesses such as clothing and accessories.
This PKM activity was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Dr. H. Adjeng Mariana, S.E., M.SI, and a speech from Eka, Chair of the Kampoeng Rajoet Binong Jati craftsmen.
Neneng said that during the training, Tanti Irawati Mukhlis, S.E., M.M, QIA., was appointed to deliver the training material on financial management, providing keywords as one of the MSME strategies during this pandemic, namely getting used to keeping financial records, separating personal finances from business finances, starting to build business foundations and business protection, planning and managing debt, and setting targets and evaluating the business regularly.
“Alhamdulillah, this presentation received a positive response from the participants, who actively asked questions and participated in discussions. The event ended at 12:30 p.m. with the presentation of awards to participants who were active and answered the presenter’s questions correctly,” said Neneng on Monday (2/8/2021).
She further stated that the successful implementation of the PKM activities by UTama lecturers in Kampung Rajut Binong Jati was made possible by the moral and material support provided by LP2M Universitas Widyatama.
