On a vibrant Saturday (Jan. 3), UGM students participating in the Community Service Program (KKN PPM) embarked on a beach clean-up operation at Congot Beach, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta.
This environmental care, held in conjunction with the Clean Congot Festival, was a collaborative effort involving the Kulonprogo Regency Government, the Yogyakarta Naval Base, local tourism managers, and micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs dotted along the coastline.
Team member Winka Putri Suharjo from the Faculty of Pharmacy shed light on the purpose behind the beach clean-up. She emphasized that this activity was part of UGM’s student-driven environmental conservation initiative.
Preceding the clean-up, the student team surveyed the beach area, revealing a disheartening sight of plastic and organic waste littering the shore.
“We aim to heighten public awareness regarding environmental cleanliness. Here, a lot of organic and non-organic waste originates from beach visitors. By providing trash bins and fostering awareness, we aspire to cultivate a culture of cleanliness and, in turn, boost visitor numbers,” she elaborated.
The student elaborated on the innovative approach adopted for the beach clean-up, which integrated seamlessly with the festivities of the Clean Congot Festival. Collaborating closely with the Kulon Progo Tourism Office, the event was designed to engage local residents.
“As part of the clean-up initiative, we organized a friendly competition involving MSME entrepreneurs divided into nine groups. The winners were determined based on the quantity of trash collected,” she shared.
Leonard Patrick Bromokusumo, a KKN student from the International Relations program at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, highlighted the multifaceted efforts undertaken by students to uplift tourism facilities in the Congot Beach area.
From installing solar panel-powered lights at retribution posts to crafting evacuation route signs and developing a tourism promotion website for Jangkaran Village, the students left no stone unturned in their endeavor.
“Post the conclusion of our KKN program, we aspire for these initiatives to be perpetuated by local youth organizations and village authorities, fostering the advancement of tourism and MSMEs,” he expressed optimistically.
The Acting Regent of Kulon Progo, Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti, extended a warm welcome to the beach clean-up initiative by UGM KKN PPM students, underscoring its significance in bolstering tourism activities in southern Kulonprogo.
“Collaboration from academia will help propel this region towards greater comfort and safety, attracting more tourists,” she remarked.
Rosdiah (53), an MSME entrepreneur at Congot Beach, expressed enthusiasm for the collaborative clean-up. Rosdiah emphasized the responsibility of stall owners to maintain cleanliness around their respective establishments.
“The invitation from students to partake in this collective effort alongside Jangkaran residents and tourism managers reflects our shared vision of advancing the beach’s appeal, ensuring its cleanliness, beauty, and vibrancy,” Rosdiah shared.
Dr. Djarot Heru Santoso, the Secretary of the UGM Directorate of Community Service, affirmed UGM’s commitment to fostering synergy with the Kulon Progo Regency Government to catalyze tourism growth.
Additionally, Joko Mursito, the Head of the Kulon Progo Tourism Office, outlined ambitious targets for revenue growth in 2024, Rp8.6 billion, up from the previous Rp5.2 billion.
“We will intensify promotional and publication activities, develop community-based tourism and physical development, and add tourism attraction activities. All of this is aimed at increasing the number of tourist visits,” he concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson