IDF 2019 Winner Blogger: Ridhony Hutasoit Introduces Community Learning Centers, Prospective Entrepreneurs Learning Centers

Ridhony Hutasoit

The winner of the IDEAS article / Blog category in the  Indonesia Development Forum (IDF) 2019, Ridhony Marisson Hasudungan Hutasoit, introduced the Community Learning Center as a space to improve skills and encourage the birth of entrepreneurs. Through a blog on the IDF website which received an award from the Minister of National Development Planning / Head of Bappenas, Bambang Brodjonegoro, entitled "Community Learning Center, Solution to Creating Quality SMEs". Ridhony said he wants to change the views of many young people in his work area, Southeast Sulawesi. According to him, most young people there are only oriented to become Civil Servants (PNS).

"Civil servants are good, but growing the entrepreneurial spirit in these students is important so that they are independent. And even if they later become civil servants or employees, they need to have an entrepreneurial spirit," said Ridhony who is the Head of the Consumer Education and Protection Subdivision (EPK) of the Southeast Sulawesi Province Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Before joining OJK, Ridhoni worked as an Auditor at the Indonesian Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). Ridhoni often speaks at seminars, workshops, discussions, and congresses with the theme of entrepreneurship, investment, financial literacy, consumer protection, to the Industrial Revolution 4.0. He was chosen as the Best Presenter in the Performance Based Budgeting Award (PBB Award) held by the OJK in 2017 and the Best Change Partner in the KR / KO Category in Indonesia from OJK in 2019.

Almost every week, Ridhony spoke at the Community Learning Center, which was established by OJK Sultra. 

"So, we gather various elements, communities, and young people. Actually, we hope to reach out to persons with disabilities or young people who are not interested in school, but wish to increase their capacity," he explained.

Among the communities invited to join was the Kendari Teaching Movement and the New Generation of Bank Indonesia (Genbi), a community receiving scholarships from BI.  To date, there are around 200 young people enrolled in Community Learning Centers.

The young people from various elements received training in entrepreneurship, leadership, financial management, getting to know the financial sector, digital finance, other digital training, and other materials needed to build entrepreneurial spirit. This training as an effort to address the issues raised in a joint discussion in the Southeast Sulawesi Small and Medium Enterprises Forum (UKM-IKM). According to Ridhony, in the previous discussions it was found that the cause of the underdevelopment of MSMEs in Southeast Sulawesi included the limited human resources and the failure to keep up with the progressive world.

"Now in the Learning Center Community there is a D-Class or Dilan Class program, which is the Nusantara Inclusion and Finance Ambassador class. Because we are OJK, and as an authority, we connect financial service entities to contribute and add value. So, it is not only representatives from the FSA teaching, but also experts from the industry come to teach," he added.

In the long run, according to Ridhony, the combination of understanding digital financial services and entrepreneurship will encourage the formation of qualified MSME owners. To further encourage the birth of new entrepreneurs from the participants of the Community Learning Center, a cooperative will have to be formed later. Its function, in addition to accommodating the participants who decide to open a business, is also to bring the participants closer to capital access.

"For example, in a bank there is a People's Business Credit (KUR) or MEKAR program and other low-cost financing. Now to be able to access it, at least they must be able to make financial reports," he added.

Become an Ambassador of Financial Inclusion

Ridhony explained that in the short term, the education and training program in the community is expected to make every D-Class member an extension of the OJK Sultra to reach the community, both in the city and in the villages, in order to increase the inclusion index and financial literacy. They are encouraged to become ambassadors for financial inclusion in their society. His job is to provide financial literacy by introducing the financial services sector, providing investment education, and secure money storage.

"Because many people in the area, especially here, keep the money still in jugs or under pillows," he added.

The inclusion ambassadors, according to Ridhony, also explained the importance of applying the principle (2L) in investing to the wider community, namely legal and logical. Legal means that the institution is officially registered with OJK and logically means the return on investment is fairly reasonable. 

"Now illegal investment is prevalent, like yesterday the OJK had to deal with a case inflicting on farmers in Southeast Sulawesi. They are tired of farming, then harvesting, but the money goes into illegal investment and is gone," he continued.

The case in question was a fraudulent investment case involving an institution claiming to be the Baitul Maal wa Tawmil (BMT) Diamond Islamic Sharia Microfinance Institution (LKMS), as reported by Penasultra. 

Later, the financial literacy movement will also be integrated into a compulsory university students community program (KKN), in collaboration with local universities.

During IDF 2019, Ridhony delivered a presentation which derived from the article he wrote that won the competition, in the Ideas and Innovation Marketplace Session, Co-creating and Collaboration on July 22.  The Learning Center Community Activities which he advocates are in line with the main theme of IDF 2019, "Mission Possible: Seizing the Opportunities of Future Work to Drive Inclusive Growth". 

Congratulations to Ridhony!