Si Kompas Nelayan: Empowering Fishing Households to Achieve Long-term Financial Goals

In 2023, MDPI has successfully implemented long-term financial management training to fishing households through the Si Kompas Nelayan program. The game is designed to enhance coastal communities’ capacity to achieve their financial targets, dreams, and aspirations.

Introducing Si Kompas Nelayan

The financial literacy program for fishing households is a crucial step toward economic improvement and diversifying livelihoods. MDPI has launched the second phase of its capacity-building program, introducing the financial simulation game “Si Kompas Nelayan.”

“Si Kompas Nelayan,” which stands for “Simulasi Kelola Mimpi dan Asa Nelayan,” helps coastal families enhance their financial skills to achieve long-term goals.

During training, coastal families prioritize financial goals by exploring avenues such as business development, asset investment, and education.

Read also: Introducing financial literacy to fishing communities

An educational game that inspires 50 coastal households

In 2023, Phase Two of Financial Literacy Training engaged 111 participants from over 50 coastal families across MDPI’s areas in Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi.

Participants not only played the game but also kept a daily investment book to record their short-, medium-, and long-term goals. This helps families prioritize needs and save income for their dreams. Fishing households were also advised to explore alternative income sources like self-employment.

Packed with sustainable fisheries messages

Yuliastuti, a fisheries business owner and mother in South Sulawesi, stressed the importance of environmental health for her business and well-being. “The concept of sustainable fisheries in financial literacy training encourages me to implement it because ecosystem health impacts my family’s economics,” she said.

Financial literacy training has encountered various lessons and challenges. One major challenge is limited access to capital from financial institutions familiar with coastal family finances. MDPI plans to refine the financial literacy model to ensure coastal family economic sustainability.

Financial Literacy Phase 2 training continues in 2024 to reach more fishing households, promoting financial literacy and sustainable fisheries practices.