The Student Creativity Program Team (PKM) of the Semarang State Polytechnic (Polines), in collaboration with the Al-Mudhofar Orphanage, develops creativity and entrepreneurial spirit for orphanage children. The collaboration is in the form of training to make batik motif tote bags with ecoprint techniques for students at the Al Mudhofar orphanage. This batik motif utilizes the fallen leaves around the Al Mudhofar Orphanage. This orphanage is located at Karangrejo V, Banyumanik, Semarang.
The head of the Al-Mudhofar Orphanage Foundation, Mrs. Nani, really appreciated this activity. According to him, the manufacturing training activities Tote Bag batik motif with technique Ecoprint very useful and add new knowledge for orphanage children and as a real step to empower Al-Mudhofar orphanage children. “This activity is certainly very useful for the residents of the orphanage, they get new knowledge, new things from this activity that have never been obtained before. We hope that this activity will foster a spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship for them,” he explained.
The supervisor of PKM Polines, Mr. Junaidi ST, M.Eng, admitted that he was proud of students who had creative ideas. According to him, this can raise a sense of concern for the orphanage children. He emphasized that the orphanage must have a creative spirit and of course an entrepreneurial spirit, because it is very important as a living capital in the future.
The PKM team started the activity of making ecoprint totebags by holding an online socialization with the Al Mudhofar Orphanage through a zoom meeting. This socialization aims to provide knowledge and steps regarding ecoprint. Then held a training to make batik motif totebags with ecoprint techniques with the orphanage children and was also accompanied by a companion lecturer, Mrs. Dra. Nurul Hamida M.Pd. which is done offline while still complying with health protocols. In addition to totebag making training, our team also conducts marketing and packaging training for totebags. The packaging of the tote bag itself uses modern packaging using cardboard, thank you cards, and hemp rope so that the packaging looks very attractive. For the marketing of the products made, it focuses on digital marketing using market places such as Shopee, Lazada, and Tokopedia. For promotional media, use social media, especially Instagram with the name @liumybag.store. The product that is made is just a tote bag, but the natural elements and creativity make this product unique and very interesting, especially since there are not many similar products on the market.