Apriana Konga Naha, a woman born in Sumba, who currently works as a Chef Teacher at the Sumba Hospitality Foundation (SHF), is one of the Sumbanese women who was called to do something for her region, especially for less fortunate young people, especially those who face obstacles in continuing their education. Apri, as she is usually called, really enjoys the field she is working after studying at the same place, namely the Sumba Hospitality Foundation, around 2017-2018, majoring in Culinary. Several opportunities to do internships at tourist attractions both in Bali and in Sumba were well done with great enthusiasm that led her to be a Chef Teacher as her profession today. "Here I help to teach broadly Basic Culinary for young Sumbanese friends who study at SHF so that after completing studies, they are ready to work and compete in the world of tourism wherever they are," she explained.
Apri's meeting with Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta and getting to know its vision and mission, which is oriented for young people development, plus her cousin who is active as the Multiplicator of Stube HEMAT in Sumba, and her active experience in local NGOs, more or less influenced her thinking model to understand life and its problems. Until one day Apri was eager to open employment opportunities for young people by opening a hairdressing service outlet called H-RIMBA Barber Shop, which provides men's haircut services with various styles plus shampooing. Partnering with Anthony to run the operation of this outlet together, H-RIMBA Barber Shop has survived until now.
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H-RIMBA has a deep meaning, which describes a self-introspection of many things about life and the laws of nature. It will always remind anyone to appreciate and respect lives and others’ with all differences. H-RIMBA Barber Shop opened in 2022 by recruiting 5 people consisting of 3 people who are still in school and 2 young people who have finished high school but have not had the opportunity to continue to college. They live with Apri because it is near their schools. As the progress and needs, currently H-RIMBA barber shop has 7 barbers, and all of them attend high school and vocational school in Waingapu. One person has just graduated from vocational school.
Recruiting students of high school as staffs is a process of forming them into productive people after school hours without disrupting their studies. There are many things they get by working at an H-RIMBA barber shop such as; getting their school fees, being able to meet their daily basic needs, getting a place to live near school, honing their life skills, not burdening their parents, and practicing independence. However, these young people still need to be continuously trained to improve their capacities, such as mastery of hair-cutting tools, cutting styles, coloring, massage, and not less important is the ability to adapt to new environments and people.
Apri also had the opportunity to become a Consultant Chef at one of the resorts in Alor in 2022 which was done both on-site and off-site, which made her busy going back and forth between Sumba and Alor, 2 to 3 times a year. "There, I accompanied friends in the kitchen to create menus, make food for guests, and several other things," she added. Her love for Sumba with all its challenges made Apri continue to try to think about how young people can develop and be independent. For friends around Waingapu, tidy up your hair by coming directly to the H-RIMBA Barber Shop, in front of the Kambajawa Catholic Church, Waingapu, East Sumba. ***
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