Towards Sustainable Mangrove Village, PPK Ormawa Himiteka IPB University Carries Four Service Programs

The Student Association of Marine Science and Technology (Himiteka) IPB University, which is part of the Student Organization Capacity Strengthening Program (PPK Ormawa) team, carries four programs to promote the mangrove potential of Pantai Mekar Village, Muaragembong, Bekasi, West Java.

The four programs are Mangrove Hero, Mangrove School, Gemaro (Mangrove Preservation Movement), and C-Ling (Mobile Health Check). All of them focus on optimizing the mangroves of Pantai Mekar Village from various age targets ranging from young people to women empowering family welfare (PKK).

In order to maximize each program, the Himiteka Ormawa PPK team conducted socialization to village officials and teachers. Socialization is also carried out door to door to residents’ homes. This PPK Ormawa activity will be carried out until October.

“The program is good, especially (those) related to improving environmental quality,” said Desriza, a resident of Pantai Mekar Village, expressing her views on the Gemaro program, namely planting mangrove seedlings and coastal clean up beaches. “After the tidal floods, garbage went up. People tend to be lazy to clean up, so we need sustainable action,” she continued.

On the other hand, Dahlia appreciated the Mangrove Hero program in the form of counseling on mangrove product processing to PKK women in Pantai Mekar Village. “It’s good, really. With this activity, we (fisherwomen) can fill our afternoon time with useful activities as well as generate income,” she explained.

The Mangrove School is an interactive education program for young people in Pantai Mekar Village. Meanwhile, C-Ling is a mobile health clinic as well as socialization in the midst of tidal flooding conditions that often occur in Pantai Mekar Village.

The President of Himiteka’s PPK Ormawa, Caesar Aditya, said that the socialization aims to introduce team members and student programs to residents. “For two days, our goal is to get closer to the villagers while introducing the Himiteka Ormawa PPK program,” he said.

“Hopefully, PPK Ormawa Himiteka can provide the best and residents feel comfortable and happy with the presence of IPB University students in Pantai Mekar Village,” Caesar concluded.

This socialization activity will be continued by other activities, one of which is a workshop to better introduce the Pantai Mekar Village community to the Himiteka Ormawa PPK. After informing the community, it was time to realize the four Himiteka Ormawa PPK programs in optimizing mangrove potential and improving community-based environmental quality in Pantai Mekar Village in order to achieve an Independent Maritime Village. (IAAS/Aly)