Seuke Aceh actively involved on some exhibitions regionally. All the exhibitions that Seuke Aceh involved in, were cooperation between the coops with the local government in Pidie Jaya through Dekranas (Dewan Kerajinan National= National Craft Council). The exhibitions were:

1. Dekranas Exhibition, November 2007, Banda Aceh.

It was the first time for Seuke Aceh attended an exhibition. This involvement could be separated from the support of Dekranas Pidie Jaya to involving Seuke Aceh’ products in this exhibition and out of expectation, the Pidie Jaya’s stand became the second best stand, even though Pidie Jaya was the newest region in Aceh. This honor also supported by the Seuke Aceh’s products that became the visitor’s favorite

2. Smesco Leather Expo, December, Jakarta

This exhibition was the This exhibition was an invitation from Dekranas of Aceh Province. It was the first time for Seuke Aceh involved in an exhibition outside the regions.

3. MTQ Telkom Exhibition , June 2008, Banda Aceh

The exhibition attended by any participants from Sumatera and Java. In this exhibition, Seuke Aceh joint with Pidie Jaya local government’s stand.

4. IMT GT Exhibition, July 2008, Banda Aceh

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) is an annual show attended by the businessman from these three countries. The Seuke Aceh got invitation from the Dekranas province to participate in this event and brought together their primary products.

A women craft cooperatives, Seuke Aceh, as its existence since January 2008 has done some external activities that brought positive impacts to the coops itself, and also the Pidie Jaya region. The activities of the coops were the reflection of the capacity of the Seuke Aceh through the assistance from Pekerti and Save The Children that have developed itself into a settle and independence coop. The result of product development from Seuke Aceh not only attracting the customer to buy, but also the NGO and INGO attracted to have knowledge as the Seuke Aceh has that will be applied to their beneficiaries.

a. Training Product Development for GAA’s Beneficiaries ( German Agro Action)

One of the organizations that interested was GAA (German Agro Action), a Germany INGO that did a program of community development in Pidie and Bireun regions.

Based on a written agreement between Seuke Aceh and GAA, the coop Seuke Aceh provide a product development training for GAA beneficiaries in Kambang Tanjong, Pidie and Jeunib, Bireun. The training was led by trainer from Seuke Aceh coop members who have capability to design the modified products from mats and the GAA provided the tools and the place for training. As the result of the training was the GAA artisan able to make 3 basic products (mirror, laundry basket and tissue box) and further, they can be able to develop into other products.

b. Dying training for Paska’s beneficiaries

lainnya. Paska is a local NGO which the head office is in Sigli, Pidie. One of the programs is pandanus producer development in Panteraja, Pidie Jaya. Cooperation with this NGO, Seuke Aceh provided a dying training to Paska’s beneficiaries. The Seuke Aceh provided the dyes and also the trainer who trained the Paska’s beneficiaries to be able to process 9 basic colors and from these colors they can make more varieties color. The beneficiaries usually used only 3 basic colors without any combination among these 3 colors, after the training the beneficiaries able to process the color they never seen before such as brown, black, yellow, pink, and others.

The success of this first export could be separated from the Women Pandan producers strengthen in Trienggadeng that started at July 2008. This program was cooperation between Save The Children as the donor and Pekerti Foundation as infield applicator.

The cooperation of the two organizations have been brought a big change in the pandan product surrounding Trienggadeng. Before the program intervention came into this area, the pandan producer only used pandan to make mat with limited variation of color. However, as the program applied, the producers able to produce a modification of mat into other product such as tissue box, laundry box, rubbish box, mirror, handbag, file keeper, file holder and others. Also the development of the color, at previous time the color are only three basic color and no combination, but today the producer use 9 basic color, that from these basic color they can made some other variation.

This program also gave stressing to the market widen. It can be proven by there were Seuke Aceh’s product spread a lot in souvenir store in Banda Aceh. And for the next target is the Seuke Aceh’s product ca be spread to over the Aceh and Medan.

While, for the export market, Pekerti will promote the Seuke Aceh’s products to its buyer in abroad. Just like this first exports, this is sent to Pekerti’s partner in Australia, named Fair Go Trading. Its can be happened because at this time Pekerti as foundation which specifically handled Indonesian handicraft has market linkage with buyer in more than 30 countries in America, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Save The Children and Pekerti also have prepared the sustainability of the Seuku Aceh coops as the organization which will do all the activities what they have done now. Hopefully, after this program end, coops will be able to run its organization as today. For the next, Pekerti will keep to support the coops through promoting the new product from Seuke Aceh to its buyers.

The progress of this program also can not be separated from the support of local government of Pidie Jaya, especially from coops department and local handicraft organization which involving the Seuke Aceh in several exhibition, both locally and nationally so the pandan from Seuke Aceh became more famous.