The creative industry is one of the efforts of the Papuan people to carry out economic activities. Handicrafts that produce goods that have unique value and also usefulness are one of the creative industries that receive attention and appreciation. The opportunity to maximize Papuan handicrafts has received attention from the Church Women’s Fellowship in the Indonesian Bible Christian Fellowship in the Kebar area, Tambrauw Regency, South West Papua. A bazaar and handicraft exhibition were also held in order to introduce handicraft products produced by the community around Kebar. The uniqueness of handicraft products in Kebar is a potential attraction that can increase the economic value of the product and lead to the welfare of the craftsmen.
The series of handicraft exhibition events include a bazaar to sell products, product making training, and also other events such as introducing the culture of the people in Kebar including products that are the result of a culture that has been passed down from generation to generation. Handicraft products displayed in the exhibition include noken which are made in various sizes with different functions such as one of the innovations is noken for storing small mobile phones and also noken which is a bag like in general which is large in size.
The initiative carried out by the church congregation, especially the female congregation in Kebar, is one form of manifestation of their devotion to the surrounding community. The making of handicraft products also uses vetiver grass which is specially planted by the church congregation. Support from the community is also one of the encouragements for the female church congregation who are struggling to help each other with the community to be able to improve welfare through economic activities, one of which is this handicraft product exhibition.
The hope of the female church congregation who initiated the handicraft exhibition in Kebar is that what they do will get attention from many parties. First, the party in question is the community who are enthusiastic about being able to carry out economic activities by producing and selling handicrafts. Second, the party in question is the local government which is expected to pay special attention to the economic potential in the community and also provide assistance to be able to facilitate economic activities carried out by the community in Kebar.
The handicraft product exhibition in Kebar is expected to be held every year. Support from the church congregation assisted by the community as organizers and exhibition participants is expected to continue and can even attract support from other parties such as the local government and investors who are interested in handicraft products in Kebar.
