TRANSFORMING ELDERLY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT SEKOLAH LANSIA YOGYAKARTA VIA TRIKON PRINCIPLES

Abstract

This community service program aimed to strengthen the entrepreneurial mindset of elderly individuals through a qualitative and participatory approach. Implemented in collaboration with the Department of Women Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning (DP3AP2KB) of Yogyakarta City, the program involved elderly participants at the Sekolah Lansia in Prawirodirjan. Recognizing the advanced age of the participants, the needs assessment was conducted through interactive discussions and participatory dialogue. Activities included entrepreneurship discussions grounded in local wisdom and Ki Hadjar Dewantara's Trikon leadership principles (Continuity, Convergence, Concentricity). This intervention shifted the entrepreneurial paradigm toward "Karya Lansia" (Elderly Creations), leveraging their existing experience, skills, social networks, and trust. Findings revealed that participants viewed business activities primarily as a means to stay busy and seek happiness, rather than solely to maximize profit. Program evaluation demonstrated increased enthusiasm and institutional pride, driven by the city government's structured educational tiers (Standard 1, 2, and 3), each lasting one year and culminating in a formal graduation ceremony (wisuda). This program generated a qualitative community-based empowerment model integrating the Resource-Based View with elderly social capital, fostering a sustainable, happiness-oriented empowerment approach aligned with healthy and productive aging.