Coastal Community Empowerment Based on Transformative Learning in the Processing of Marine Products in Maluku Province

Abstract

This research is conducted simultaneously with the incessant attention to the empowerment of society in many countries in the world. People who work as fishermen who inhabit the coastal areas of Maluku Province are less touched by community empowerment programs. They are often blamed, but not trained to expand their business.

This article presents the impact of transformative learning-based training including: their learning needs, knowledge, skills, and attitudes, as well as performance in the marine home processing industry. This article develops questions that arise in transformative learning-based training. The participants are fishermen who are interested in developing fish preservation business. Key informants were 27 trainees and 4 instructors each with fish preservation skills, non-formal education, curriculum development and marketing management skills. Data collection through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and semi-structured interviews as well as non-participant observation and document studies at training sites and household processing of seafood. Using interactive model data analysis techniques (Miles, M. B. & Huberman, A. M. 1994). This research frames the transformative learning-based training as a process of forming attitudes, improved skills and new experiences of the trainees to solve the problems of marine fish preservation. The learning experience becomes the basic capital in the development of household preservation industry in a sustainable manner.