A small school business project in eastern Indonesia is creating new opportunities for income generation and community support through a partnership between local Adventist business leaders and an Adventist secondary school in the region.
Leaders from Adventist-Laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI), a network of Adventist professionals and entrepreneurs, recently visited Sekolah Lanjutan Advent (SLA) Nusra, an Adventist secondary school in East Nusa Tenggara, to inspect a newly launched hollow block production initiative aimed at helping the school become more financially sustainable while providing livelihood opportunities for local workers.
Pastor Poltak Sihombing, coordinator of ASI for the Adventist Church in Central Indonesia (CIUM), led the visit on May 1 alongside Pastor Ahimas Natty, president of the Adventist Church in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. During the visit, the leaders met with workers overseeing the production process and offered encouragement for the project’s continued development.
The initiative began after ASI donated a hollow block molding machine to the school’s small business unit earlier this year. Organizers said the project was designed to provide an additional source of income for the school while also creating opportunities for practical skills training and local employment.
The machine was formally turned over on April 5 through the ASI East Nusa Tenggara team, represented by Rukun Lay, to the school administration and business unit staff. Church leaders, teachers, and community representatives attended the ceremony.
Pastor Gadner Abineno, education director for the Adventist Church in East Nusa Tenggara, thanked the ASI teams for supporting the initiative and helping strengthen the school’s long-term sustainability efforts.
“This project is expected to help increase the school’s income while also creating meaningful opportunities for the surrounding community,” Abineno said.
According to project organizers, the machine has the potential to produce up to 880 hollow blocks per week. Based on current market prices, the school could generate an estimated net income of around Rp500,000 weekly (29 USD). The hollow blocks are expected to be supplied to churches, schools, and nearby communities for construction use.
Rukun Lay explained that the initiative was not designed as a loan program but as a form of community investment intended to encourage self-reliance and local development.
“We hope this project will continue to grow and inspire more people to support meaningful community initiatives,” Lay said.
As part of the symbolic launch of the production work, Lay also handed over a shovel to the workers operating the machine, representing readiness and shared responsibility in building the project together.
SLA Nusra Director Rudolf Manurung welcomed the support and expressed optimism about the project’s future impact. He said the initiative could help strengthen the school’s operations while opening doors for more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the area.
“With God’s help, we hope this small initiative will continue to grow, serve the community, and create opportunities for many people,” Manurung said.
The project reflects a growing movement among faith-based organizations in Indonesia to combine education, entrepreneurship, and community service in ways that address practical needs while supporting long-term development.
The original article was published in the Hope Channel Indonesia website.