​Since two weeks ago, work-from-home (WFH) has been implemented by offices in many cities in Indonesia, you know, in order to halt the spread of COVID-19. Since the day one of WFH, how many social media accounts have you seen giving tips on how to stay productive during WFH? Some people may find it difficult to get used to WFH due to some different factors such as time management, limited interactions, a not-so-conducive atmosphere of the house, etc. Otherwise, some other people may enjoy WFH for a longer morning prep time, being enabled to be more focused, less noise, etc. 

Despite the plus minus, our YCSEA 2.0 finalists, #KampungMarketer and Nichoa Chocolate #HealthyChocolateCulture are also turning to WFH in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly to ensure the safety of their beneficiaries. “We have to assign WFH to our beneficiaries, and temporarily cancel any meetings that require gatherings such as educational trips, training, and focus group discussion. To make sure that the we all still work well, we coordinate via Whatsapp group and also organize virtual meetings”, Umu from #KampungMarketer explained. 

While WFH is a whole new experience for some people, both who enjoy it or not, it has been otherwise a routine for the beneficiaries of #GumiBamboo and #MenganyamPesisirWomenEmpowerment. Since the beginning, far before the COVID-19 pandemic today, the two social enterprises have been implementing WFH for their beneficiaries. Therefore, they found no fundamental change in the working mechanism due to this pandemic. However, they still find it important to ensure that their beneficiaries are all well-informed about this pandemic. “We often remind them of what needs to be done to prevent themselves from getting infected by this virus and to immediately seek medical assistance if they feel any flu-like symptom”, Ayu from #GumiBamboo explained. 

Yes! Ensuring everyone's safety is important during this very time. Everyone has an equal chance to be infected by COVID-19, that is why reminding each other to pay more attention to their health can help limit, hopefully stop the spread of the virus. 

Beside ensuring the safety of the beneficiaries, what  is also important is ensuring the continuity of the business and preventing extreme loss. These social enterprises implement some changes in business strategy in terms of production efficiency, profit model, and financial management. How does each strategy work for their business? Find the answers in the next update!