Empowering Housewife Communities in Dasawisma Ii Mangunsari Asri, Semarang City through a Creative Economy "Waiki Rajut"

Abstract

Dasawisma is an association of housewives in rural and urban communities in Indonesia. In general, the activities of dasawisma are limited to members’ social gatherings, the promotion of household products, and the objects of government programs. However, there is a great potential for economic independence driving from dasawisma activities if they are well managed. This study is based upon a mentoring activity for housewives of the Dasawisma II Mangunsari Asri Housing Gunungpati Semarang City which sought to empower members of the dasawisma through creative economic ventures such as knitting sandal crafts. The method of implementing the activity is through a partnership and participatory empowerment approach. Several empowerment activities are carried out systematically, including: developing entrepreneurial motivation; training of skills in producing knitting sandals, managing work organizations; managing finance; promoting and marketing products; introducing online marketing methods; and maintaining the stability of creative economic activities. These activities resulted in the establishment of a creative economic business unit managed directly by Dasawisma II members under the name Waiki Rajut (Knitting Waiki). The existence of Waiki Rajut is both an arena for the productivity of women and and allows makes housewives to feel more resourceful and responsible since they have activities and skills.
 Keywords: Creative Economy, Dasawisma, Empowerment, Housewife, Knitting Sandal