Stories

Tersiana Haba: Involving Neighbors in Weaving Activity

Tersiana Haba (44 years old) is one of the weavers in Lehari Group – Manutapen, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. She has been weaving from young age until now. Weaving become her main job and livelihood.

In the past, before Tenunkoe Movement existed, every month Tersiana can sell only one to two sheets of woven fabric which made by ordinary cotton yarn. Each woven fabric sheet costs Rp. 200.000, -, so every month she can get up to Rp. 400,000, -.

But since joining TenunKoe’s program, Tersiana has received a lot of training, such as cloth coloring method training to avoid fade, blending colors, and making the same woven sizes from end to end.

After being trained, she practiced her knowledge so that the woven fabric she made became better. Others even say that Tersiana’s weaving quality is very good.

Through the assistance of Yayasan Satu Karsa Karya (YSKK) who managed Tenunkoe, the Lehari group finally got attention from the government and other parties. After meeting with the head of urban village and the Department of Industry and Trade held by YSKK through the Tenunkoe program, Tersiana and her group were contacted by the City National Crafts Council (Dekranasda) for Management training. All members of the Lehari and Sehati groups were participated.

All the weaving group members got support from the government in the form of yarn and dye medicines. Tersiana said that before YSKK assisted the weaving group, they already got some supports, but it was obtained only for certain people. But now, all members of the group can get the same support.

Since her quality of weaving has become better, Tersiana dare to offer higher prices to the buyers. Now she can sell four sheets of woven fabric in a month at a price of Rp. 400,000, – per sheet. This fabric uses masarais yarn that has better quality and smooth, so it is more suitable for making clothes. It means that her income is increased up to Rp. 1.600.000, – per month.

Due to the growing demand of Tenunkoe cooperatives and art shops in Kupang, Tersiana thought to focus on the work of coloring and weaving. Meanwhile, the job of rolling the threads is left to her neighbors. Therefore, within a month she could produce more woven fabrics; from only 2-3 sheets, now it can reach 4-5 sheets. The neighbors who help Tersiana get wages starting from Rp. 5,000 – Rp. 15,000/ roll.

Tersiana is very happy to involve her neighbors to help roll the threads, although she can only give them a little amount of money. But hopefully, through this activity, the neighbors or children around the Tersiana house, will be interested to learn how to weave.

“Althought it will takes a long time, slowly they will be proficient in weaving, and pass on and continue this ancestral skill, especially when I am old and unable to weave again,” Tersiana said.

Written by: Agustina Nenabu