Empowered by Village Funds

Kemiren village formerly only served as a route for tourists to cross over to Mount Ijen. Village funds have turned Kemiren into a tourist destination at the foot of Ijen.

KOMPAS/ANGGER PUTRANTO

Diners enjoy traditional Osing food and drinks at Pesantogan Kemangi in Kemiren village, Banyuwangi, East Java, on Monday (2/12/2019). Pesantogan Kemangi is a collection of traditional food stalls that gets working capital from the Village Fund and its management is under the auspices of a village-owned company, BUMDes Jolo Sutro.

The first village fund was enjoyed by Kemiren village, Glagah district, Banyuwangi, East Java, in 2015. At the time, a total of Rp50 million was allocated to build a food stall based on a traditional concept, going by the name of Pesantongan Kemangi.

Pesantongan is the Osing (ethnic Banyuwangi) language for a stopover spot. It was certainly hoped that tourists would not only pass through Kemiren but also take a break in the village.