From Stigma to Power: The Birth of “Kampung Buket” (Bouquet Village) from The Hands of Kemuning Women
Banjarbaru – Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM), through a team of lecturers from various study programs, is implementing a Community Service (PkM) program to transform the image of “Kampung Widows” in Kemuning Village, Banjarbaru, into “Kampung Buket.” This program is realized through bouquet arrangement skills training and business mentoring for local housewives and young women.
The program, which will run from July to August 2025, was initiated by Dr. Susi from the Agricultural Industrial Technology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, ULM, along with a team of lecturers from the Biology Study Program, and involves six female students. The program is funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology through the Community Partnership Empowerment (PKM) scheme, under contract number 509/UN8.2/AM/2025.
According to Dr. Susi, the term “Kampung Widows” has had a negative connotation, even though the majority of residents, especially widows of productive age, still have significant potential for development.
“With this bouquet business, we hope this village will be known as Kampung Buket (Flower Village), not Kampung Widows (Widows Village). Participants were trained to become skilled so that bouquets can become a source of income and promote economic independence,” she explained.
The training was held over four sessions with three learning stages, featuring a resource person, Rufaidah Armawaty (Amanah Souvenir), who taught how to make snack bouquets, flower bouquets, and money bouquets. The 24 participants—comprised of housewives and young women aged 18–61—showed high enthusiasm.
As a culmination of the event, which coincided with the 80th anniversary of Indonesian Independence, the ULM team also held a bouquet arrangement competition to explore the participants’ creativity. The village’s strategic location—near schools and universities—is considered a promising market opportunity for the bouquet business.
In addition to training, the ULM team also helped participants develop marketing networks and access capital by engaging with partners such as Amanah Souvenir, the Banjarbaru City Family Welfare Movement (PKK), the PUSPA Forum, and the South Kalimantan LMI (Indonesian Muslim Student Association). This way, the residents’ creations will not only be marketed locally but also have broader opportunities.
Team member Sasi Gendro Sari added that the success of this program is expected to change the stigma attached to the village.
“The transformation into Kampung Buket is a concrete manifestation of the synergy between ULM, the community, and partners in empowering women, improving the creative economy, and empowering the Banua community,” she said.
Through this activity, ULM again demonstrates its commitment as a higher education institution that supports sustainable community empowerment.
