Equipped with the right skills and resources, women entrepreneurs supported by Kopernik - are able to innovate and grow their businesses. In Gesikharjo village, Tuban, East Java, a group of Wonder Women led by Kustini has been experimenting with natural coloring in crafting their batik. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
The art of batik is a family heritage in Tuban, East Java as distinct patterns are often passed down from generation to generation. The craft commonly uses synthetic coloring. In partnership with sustainable luxury brand Sukkha Citta, we supported the women in learning a new way to create batik using natural coloring and patterns to suit current trends. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
In addition to being safer for the environment, using natural colors has supported batik artisans in accessing a new premium market through Sukkha Citta. The batik-making women of Gesikharjo can now obtain a more steady income without having to sacrifice the family heritage of batik. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
Like Kustini, Anna Nurhayati, who runs an emping girut (arrowroot chips) business in Bojonegoro, East Java is passionate about innovating and growing her business. With training and assistance from Kopernik, she is now one of the top emping girut sellers in the area. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
Emping girut sellers are a dime a dozen in Bojonegoro, East Java. But after training from Kopernik, Anna gained a competitive advantage as she was encouraged to experiment with new ways of processing and packaging. Her chips are now bite-sized with consistent quality and more stylish packaging, allowing her to attract buyers from premium markets. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
Anna’s business took off after she improved her products. She has been invited to speak in many events about entrepreneurship and now employs other women in her neighborhood. She is now buying the raw girut ingredient directly from farmers, cutting out a middlemen, resulting in a better deal for her, and for the farmers she is buying from. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
For Ngaisah, innovation meant taking an ingredient that is typically seen without value and make it into something new. Optimistic and resourceful, her business began with a concern on the amount of food waste in her neighborhood such as banana trunks. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
Ngaisah became inspired to make chips out of the part of banana that’s usually thrown out. She tried and tested various ingredients before reaching consistent quality and taste. In less than a year after starting her business, Ngaisah’s chips are now sold in many souvenir stores and warung in Bojonegoro. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
Ngaisah’s innovative spirit and persistence has even encouraged her family to help the family business. Her husband often cooks the chips,. Meanwhile, her daughter helps with packaging and her son makes deliveries. By empowering one woman, her entire family is able to participate and benefi from the business. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)
Through the Wonder Women Program, Kopernik is committed to continue our support for women entrepreneurs in rural areas to reach their fullest potential and to improve the livelihoods of families as well as communities. (Photo Credit: Kopernik/Fauzan Adinugraha)