Nayla Octaviani, a student of the Forestry Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, was selected as one of the delegates in the XII National Community Service (KKN) in 2024. The activity, which took place from July 29 to August 25, was organized by Pattimura University, Ambon and involved hundreds of students from various universities in Indonesia. They gathered to contribute to community and environmental development.
In this activity, Nayla was assigned to Jikumerasa Village, Lilialy District, Buru Regency, Maluku, which has natural and cultural tourism potential. The village was ranked 300th in the 2024 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI). Seeing this potential, Nayla focused her work program on increasing public awareness of environmental management, especially in waste management, an environmentally friendly approach must be an integral part of every tourism initiative.
Nayla initiated an ecobrick making training program for Jikumerasa Village community. This program aims to process plastic waste into useful products while supporting village tourism. The training, which was held at SMP Negeri 2 Buru on Thursday (15/8/2024), involved the local community and school students. Patiently, Nayla taught how to make ecobricks starting from selecting plastic bottles, filling solid waste, to producing crafts such as seats.
Not only focusing on the environment, Nayla also helped map the tourism potential of Jikumerasa Village by compiling a tourist map. In addition, she implemented digital promotions through social media to attract more tourists. Nayla involved active community participation in the planning and development of tourist villages, so that they felt responsible for the success of this program.
“Jikumerasa Village has a lot of untapped tourism potential. By developing a tourism village, it is hoped that it can improve the community’s economy and preserve local culture,” explained Nayla.
The community’s enthusiasm for Nayla’s program is very high. They feel helped and inspired by the youthful spirit and innovation brought by KKN Kebangsaan students in Jikumerasa. “I am happy that there are KKN students who want to teach about ecobricks, with this activity I feel helped because the trash in Jikumerasa Village can be used for seating,” said Nuraji as a teacher at SMPN 2 Buru.
“Because of this activity I can work and get to know how to make Ecobricks,” added Kirana, a student at SMPN 2 Buru who was one of the participants in the Ecobrick making training.
The success of students in running this KKN Kebangsaan program proves that students have a very important role in community development. Through the knowledge and skills they have, students can provide solutions to various problems faced by the community. (dzilla/WDD/UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
