On August 5, 2018, a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Lombok. Schools and other activities were put on hold for quite some time. Many people lost their livelihoods, and thousands gathered in refugee camps.

After reaching out to provide assistance, connecting with the local communities, and building relationships, Titian Foundation saw an opportunity to empower the residents of Teluk Kombal Hamlet, Pemenang Barat Village, Pemenang District, North Lombok. At that time, Titian Foundation’s founder, Lily Kasoem, announced Titian’s desire to help empowering the community in post-earthquake recovery through the implementation of the Scholarship Programme and Community Development initiatives. This marked one of the early milestones in Titian Foundation’s efforts to empower Lombok communities.*

Together with the local community, we then saw an opportunity: North Lombok is blessed with abundant natural resources, one of which is coconuts. Utilizing this rich resource, we assisted a group of women, mostly housewives and young adults, in training to produce Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) and coconut cooking oil, both using coconut and water as raw materials. From this training, a business entity called ‘Berkah Kelapa’ was formed, with Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) and coconut cooking oil as its main products. They chose ‘Kane’ as their brand name. Why?

In the Sasak language of North Lombok (yes, Lombok has quite varied languages and dialects across its regions!), ‘Kane’ means ‘first-squeezed coconut milk’ and also means ‘now.’ This reflects the fact that the product is made from pure fermented coconut milk and is always fresh, ensuring high quality and numerous health benefits.

Despite limited production equipment, with only one coconut grater machine, this small group has continued production. The production of VCO and coconut cooking oil continues, though the process remains traditional. However, their dedication and spirit to make this business successful have started to bear fruit. Over the past two years, they have sustained production and learned to expand their marketing network.

Seeing this group’s progress, Titian has gradually reduced its assistance to allow them to stand independently. Now, the group is considered self-sufficient enough to continue developing independently, though monitoring by Titian is ongoing to ensure production continuity and business success. Some efforts to expand their market include attending training sessions or seminars and joining MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) communities, from the village to the national level. Two important communities that have played a significant role in their success are the NTB MSME Friends Community and MAPORINA (Indonesian Organic Farmers Society).

Through these two communities, this modest group is now known as a producer of VCO and coconut cooking oil. Their products have been sent to Jakarta, Sumatra, Java, and samples have even been sent to Switzerland and Dubai. Currently, the group has several regular customers, primarily in North Lombok and Mataram, and has also supplied products for government programs on several occasions.

Reflecting on this positive progress, Titian has initiated the formation of a new group in Sumur Mual Hamlet, where Pemenang Titian Community Learning Centre is now located. This group is being established to partner with Berkah Kelapa in fulfilling orders from some of their customers. This new group, named KWT Sumur Mual (Sumur Mual Women Farmers Group), aims to create equal economic opportunities through the production of VCO and coconut cooking oil.

Berkah Kelapa still relies on simple, traditional equipment, which affects production capacity, especially for coconut cooking oil. As a result, they sometimes have to source products from other small businesses in other areas. Thus, if production could be expanded within the same village with similar support, it would greatly benefit the local economy and make quality control easier. For now, the KWT Sumur Mual group is still in the formation and evaluation process, and it is hoped that both groups can eventually collaborate effectively.

North Lombok is one of the youngest regencies in the province of West Nusa Tenggara. It was only this year (2024) that North Lombok exited the status of a ‘Disadvantaged Region’. The journey ahead is long and full of challenges, but with unwavering efforts and community-driven initiatives, North Lombok is ready to rise and ultimately bring sustainable prosperity for all.

*Many of Titian Community Development Programmes in Lombok are supported by Soroptimist International of Jakarta (SIJ).

Further reading: KLU Keluar dari Status Daerah Tertinggal