Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), UGM Alumni Family in East Nusa Tenggara (Kagama NTT), and UGM KKN-PPM Sinergi Kolbano students organized a beach cleanup event at Oesapa Color Beach in Kupang.
The cleanup was accompanied by a social service initiative from UGM and Kagama NTT, which included donating 20 trash bins to the local community around the beach.
UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni Dr. Arie Sujito, and Chair of Kagama NTT and Director of TLM Bank Robert P. Fanggidae attended the social service and beach cleanup event.
The Director of Community Service, Dr. Rustamaji, the Head of the Alumni Office, Dr. Sulistyowati, and the KKN Subdirectorate, Professor Nanung Agus Fitriyanto, were also present.
28 KKN-PPM students, 35 members of Kagama NTT, 17 UGM representatives, and 20 Tanaoba Lais Manekat Bank staff members participated in the event, which was held on Saturday, Jul. 20, 2024. They cleaned up Oesapa Color Beach in Kupang.
Rector Emilia appreciated the joint effort to clean up the beach. She noted that waste management has become a concern for everyone at UGM and has reached an emergency level everywhere.
“Not only in Jogja, where there are still empty spaces that can be used for waste disposal, but everyone must think about waste management because building a habit is not easy,” she said.
The rector reminded us that if people are accustomed to littering, it will burden future generations.
The community must start thinking about sustainability for life on planet Earth.
Small steps like changing how we handle waste will impact the environment. The students, who are expected to be leaders in the next 20 years, can introduce new habits in waste management.
“We hope a system will eventually be established here, and Kupang City can become a model for waste management development. The KKN-PPM students, Kagama, and UGM are ready to help make that happen,” the rector added.
Robert P. Fanggidae mentioned that Kupang City still lacks a proper waste management system.
Therefore, waste management is Kagama Kupang’s homework and will continue to be communicated and coordinated with the government.
He stated that with a population of 444,000 people, Kupang City produces a significant amount of waste.
It was noted that Kupang generates 233 tons of waste daily, but handling it has yet to involve processing, only collection and final disposal.
“Of course, we will continue to communicate with the Kupang City Government, hoping that a system will be establishedand, most importantly, raise awareness on this issue. It is challenging, but if all NTT residents are aware, we can progress,” he said.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Donnie
Post-editor: Lintang