The Indonesian Inspiration for Building Foundation (YIIM) together with PT Insight Investments Management (INSIGHT) (INSIGHT) are always committed to supporting the strengthening of community independence through a series of inclusive and sustainable empowerment initiatives.

The commemoration of World Clean Up Day which fell on September 21 2019 marked the importance of environmental cleanliness, especially coastal and marine areas.

The sea, which provides many benefits for life, from reserves of oxygen or blue carbon, a source of life to tourism potential, was stated by the Program and Institutional Director of the Indonesian Inspiration for Building Foundation (YIIM), Dewi Astari, that it must be protected from the current threat of pollution and waste.

Dewi Astari said that around 70 percent of the earth’s surface is ocean. Currently, seas throughout the world are polluted by rubbish, especially plastic. “This is a problem that is the focus of many global audiences and if left unchecked it can damage the ecosystem and marine life,” said Dewi when met at her office, Jalan Wijaya 1, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta on Monday (30/9/2019).

This is no exception on Tunda Island, which is one of the tourist islands and a marine conservation area in Banten Province.

With the support of Insight Investments Management, the Banten Provincial Government and the Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation (Terangi), they held a World Clean Up Day event on Tunda Island on September 21 2019.

Dewi said that the event entitled ‘Preserve My Sea, Sustainable My Earth’ began with welcoming invited guests at the Tunda Island pier with a marching band performance from the children of the Tunda Island Integrated School.

On this occasion, YIIM conveyed reducing the use of plastic by distributing stainless steel straws and ecobags (recycled bags) as merchandise.

Furthermore, the event was enlivened with traditional dance performances by Tunda Island Integrated Junior High School (SMP) students and qasidah from Tunda Island PKK mothers.

Apart from that, there was also a competition for crafts made from recycled waste and sales of local community products such as bonsai, shell crafts, breadfruit chips and Instant Kriuk Fish Crackers (KIKI).

“There is also a booth built by us, Kopi Inspirasi which can be enjoyed for free and also free haircuts for the local community by barbers who are the result of YIIM’s barber training,” he said.

Not only limited to exhibitions, activities are also filled with literacy for the children of Tunda Island, in the form of children’s stories by the CT Arsa Foundation team and beach clean-up events, including planting coral reefs using a new method, namely the Clay Artificial Reef System (Clarys).

The coral reef conservation method initiated by the Terangi Foundation is said to use clay as the main ingredient for making coral seed planting media. So it is more environmentally friendly than using cement castings.

“There was also a sharing session between the community and the government, various complaints from the people of Tunda Island, ranging from education, health, social and economic issues, were conveyed to the government to provide solutions,” said Dewi.

“By holding this event, it is hoped that we can build mutual concern for the environment, especially the sea and coastal areas, and the potential of Tunda Island as a tourism island can be better known and sought after by a wider audience,” he added. (dual)

This article was published on Wartakotalive with the title World Clean Up Day, YIMM Educates the Tunda Island Community, https://wartakota.tribunnews.com/2019/10/01/world-clean-up-day-yimm-edukasi-bangun-ulus-tunda?page=2. Writer: Dwi Rizki Editor: Hertanto Soebijoto

Through this synergy and initiative, the Indonesian Inspiration for Building Foundation (YIIM) hopes that the programs implemented can provide real benefits, open up wider opportunities for independence for participants, and actively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

*Inspiration Greetings!*