Group 2, consisting of Dean, Fara, Galya, Kalin, and Ndira from Universitas Indonesia, has successfully completed Mutualplus Social Project 1. As an effort to foster social awareness, we carried out an environmental-themed activity in RW 05, Kelurahan Pondok Cina, Kecamatan Beji, Kota Depok, Jawa Barat. This activity was both educational and participatory, addressing environmental issues by providing training for housewives on how to manage waste into functional and economically valuable products.
With the theme “Bijak Kelola Sampah: Aksi Nyata untuk Lingkungan Lebih Sehat,” this program was organized to increase public awareness and understanding of the importance of managing waste from its source. In addition, participants, who are members of the waste bank in RW 05, Kelurahan Pondok Cina, were given the opportunity to engage in hands-on practice in recycling inorganic waste, along with promoting efforts to reduce plastic usage. Various crafts were created from household waste available at Bank Sampah Kesadaran RW 05 Kelurahan Pondok Cina, aiming to reduce plastic waste accumulation while transforming used materials into economically valuable products. Through participants’ creativity, plastic bottles and other plastic waste were turned into useful items such as plant pots, cardholders, and decorative flower ornaments. The activity also included an ecoprint workshop on tote bags, participated in by all attendees.
Throughout the program, participants showed great enthusiasm in both the educational sessions and recycling practices. This activity demonstrated that waste management can begin with simple steps at home through creativity and the habit of sorting waste.
Not only for the participants, Mutualplus Social Project also left a meaningful impression on the awardees. During the program, Kalin gained many positive experiences. She shared, “I feel happy to be able to contribute something beneficial to the surrounding environment. This motivates me to continue participating in social activities and to create a positive impact on society in the future,” reflecting an increased sense of social awareness after joining the project.
For Fara, this activity was very meaningful as it proved that small acts of care can bring significant changes to both the environment and the community. Small steps we take can have a big impact on many people.
Dean also found the experience valuable. He stated, “Through this activity, I learned that protecting the environment is not only an individual responsibility, but also requires collective effort and shared awareness,” which further strengthened his sense of social and environmental responsibility.
For Ndira, this activity provided the understanding that life is not only about gaining knowledge in the classroom, but also about opening our eyes to surrounding conditions and how our knowledge can create real benefits for society and the environment. Through this experience, Ndira became more motivated to continue contributing to impactful social initiatives.
Meanwhile, Galya found the experience enjoyable as she was able to engage directly and interact with the community. According to her, witnessing the participants’ enthusiasm throughout weeks 1 to 4 of activities was truly memorable. She realized that simple actions, such as educating and sharing ideas about waste management, can create meaningful and positive impacts on the surrounding environment.
Through this social initiative, it is hoped that the community, especially housewives in RW 05, Kelurahan Pondok Cina, can become agents of change in creating a cleaner and healthier environment. Furthermore, this program is expected to serve as a starting point in building a sustainable waste management system in the community.
Written by: Dean, Fara, Galya, Kalin, and Ndira (Group 2 Universitas Indonesia)
Edited by: Marcomm Mutual+