“We also have the same dreams,” echoed 150 participants in unison in three cities (Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta) after the screening of the ILO’s latest documentary on the entrepreneurship journey of transgendered entrepreneurs titled “We Also Have Dreams”. The screenings marked the series of launch events, held from 25 October to 5 November, to inspire more transgender persons to start and develop sustainable businesses as the source of living to support their lives and their families.

These launches included interactive sessions with three transgendered entrepreneurs featuring in the documentary: Hartoyo (a ready-to-wear business), Marsya (a wedding organizer business) and Setya (a catering business). They shared their experiences in overcoming business challenges and in making the best use of opportunities for business expansion (read their journeys in “We Have the Same Dreams”).

In addition to the interactive sessions, these launches also included a business coaching session, presenting local professional business coaches in each city. The coaching session highlighted basic knowledge on practical financial and business management. “I am inspired to restart my business. I learnt that business failures can be used as a motivation to do better,” said one of the participants in Jakarta.

To further motivate attending participants, particularly transgender persons, to start better managing their finances and inspire to start developing their businesses, the ILO distributed a business pouch. The pouch consisted of a bookkeeping, a calculator and a practical booklet on financial management.

“We hope that the business pouch can strengthen participants’ business enthusiasms and can further inspire them to start developing their businesses. We also continue disseminating this inspiring documentary, particularly in transgendered communities,” said Early Dewi Nuriana, the ILO’s programme officer for HIV prevention.