He
sat comfortably in a chair just opposite me at the baperkam (community meeting hall) that fine morning. When he spoke, his confident gaze
drifted, as if deciphering a hidden message from an old passage. His deep voice
resonated with self-assurance.
“According to the wise, three things can transcend space and time: human values, education, and the environment.”
In other words, he believes that environmental awareness can help reduce religious radicalism. That remark came from Agus Supriono, who heads a neighborhood in Larangan Cirebon and also runs the Merbabu Asih Proklim (Climate Village Program).
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| Environmental care leads to food security. |
On a visit back in 2018, I had the privilege to walk around the kampong dubbed the Kampung Berseri Astra (KBA) that he oversees, allowing me to finally prove what he claimed. With all the greenery and ample vegetation around, to be honest, I would've mistaken it for a traditional village rather than a housing complex if he hadn't clarified.
Harmony in diversity
From the main gate, on the right side of the road or across from Taman Astra, I saw a path leading to the Bodhi Sejati Temple. We made our way there and then chatted briefly in front of the temple surrounded by shady trees.
Leaving the temple, I turned right and spotted Pura Agung Jati Pramana--a Hindu temple on Bali Street, directly across from a nursing home run by the local Christian foundation. Quite surprisingly, the temple wall stands right next to that of the As-Salam Mosque, symbolizing a beautiful interfaith harmony.
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| Harmony in diversity, a foundation for sustainable environmental preservation | Personal document |
I learned another striking detail from my chat with an older gentleman, Pak Haji. His home, which sits next to the nursing home, has a large yard that's regularly used for bus parking when local Hindus have events at the temple. It's a wonderful illustration of the religious harmony thriving in Merbabu Asih, Cirebon, West Java.
Likewise, adherents of other religions, especially
Muslims, will volunteer to act as parking attendants and provide security
during the event.
"This is what we call smart NKRI, also smart environment!" said Mr. Agus,
He firmly stated that the secret of the solidarity
of the residents in RW 08 is based on the awareness to want to manage the
environment in which they live together. In essence, the capital of tolerance
is optimized to solve common problems, in this case the environment, such as
garbage and flooding.
So it is not a strange sight when residents from
various beliefs gather casually at Baperkam to cook together. They will enjoy
the results of their hard work from the sustainable food house (KRPL) area.
Vegetables and fish can be taken, while rice is obtained from donations from
residents. Crackers or other accompaniments come from other residents.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, they also eat the
food together on banana leaves typical of the village. Talking without barriers
regardless of ethnicity and religion. The harmony of diversity is maintained,
both between children and adults.
Patience leads to awareness
Proklim Merbabu Asih was started 16 years ago by Chaidir due to his concerns about the stench of garbage at the TPS near his house. Together with Agus, he was determined to do something to respond to the climate change disaster that often hits Cirebon. At that time, floods, landslides, droughts, and diseases caused by sanitation often stopped by. However, thanks to the success of ProKlim, their area is now free from flooding, for example.
"So if it rains heavily, the water is just a
thank you," said Agus with a chuckle.
Agus and Chaidir did not deny the fatigue during the
process of starting up until becoming the Astra Bright Village as it is today.
Extra patience and consistency are really needed to create an area that cares
about the environment.
When asked about tips for raising awareness of
residents to be proklim-minded, Agus revealed three points that he continuously
whispered to residents. With a serious expression and a firm voice, he said,
“One, it is undeniable that we live in a living
environment. Second, the rate of waste growth is faster than the rate of
population growth. Third, only a madman would not want his village to be clean.”
Well, those important messages are injected into the
audience on various occasions. For example, during routine meetings, Friday
sermons, religious rituals, and other crucial events.
From there, awareness was gradually fostered so that
it became the energy that drives the spirit of caring for the environment
sustainably. They are still enthusiastic in various activities until now.
Energy of sharing kindness
The choice of the word "activity" at first glance is simple but very genius. The word activity implies an activity that reminds residents to continue to be 'active' in familiarizing themselves with the environment. Different from the word program, for example, which may be difficult to familiarize with.
"Keep away from hotmix-minded, Mas!" Agus
said as we left Baperkam (Village Meeting Hall).
They deliberately covered the village roads with paving blocks instead of asphalt to make it easier for water to return to the ground and be used again.
"On the one hand, the community is going all
out to take groundwater, but they don't want to return it to the ground
yet," Agus said further.
This is where the important role of the infiltration
wells they made at several points. A total of 17 infiltration wells are
designed to collect rainwater so that it can be harvested by residents when
water is scarce.
"We also don't have wells here, maybe the ones
who enjoy our water are the neighbors (outside the RW)," added Chaidir
with a smile.
I nodded when Agus added, "Finally, there is a
lot of goodness!" because the energy of sharing goodness is real thanks to
collaboration between beliefs in preserving the environment.
You could say this is the form of true environmental
harmony: namely the willingness to act and share! There are no more puddles,
let alone floods because there are infiltration wells and 118 biopore points
that are also used as composting facilities. Some of the infiltration wells
have been transformed into catfish ponds so that they can be more productive.
In order to become another goodness, rainwater must
not be wasted into the ground. The water is collected and channeled through
special pipes to wells that have been prepared, including in front of the
mosque, baperkam, and other points.
In addition to being harvested when water is scarce, the water reservoirs in the four locations are apparently able to maintain the quality of the surrounding buildings so that they remain sturdy and do not crack.
"The key is to explain complex things to
residents in layman's terms," said Agus when I asked about the
residents' responses at the beginning of the rainwater harvesting initiative.
Sustainable Environmental Management
Thanks to integrated and sustainable environmental management, it is no wonder that coolness immediately grips me as I walk along the village streets. Various vegetation looks green and lush covering the entire village alley.
If Agus had not explained, I would have hardly
believed that I was in a city housing complex because it looked so beautiful
like a natural village. Agus and Chaidir invited me to walk through the village
alleys that were indeed radiant, as the name implies: Kampung Berseri Astra
(KBA).
Because of that, RW Merbabu Asih has received many
awards related to environmental management as a manifestation of the Climate
Village Program (ProKlim) initiated by the government. They always prioritize
the spirit of sustainable management.
In practice, they transform all components into
resources that bring blessings. Waste is no exception. After being sorted,
organic waste is processed into compost, while non-organic waste is engineered
into various crafts with high economic value.
Plastic waste, for example, instead of being thrown
away in the trash as many people do, the waste is knitted into cool bags and is
worth hundreds of thousands of rupiah. However, based on mutual agreement, most
of the non-organic waste is collected to be sold.
Hundreds of Million Rupiah from Waste
To accommodate the proceeds from the sale of this
waste, a bank was formed called Bank Sampah Secerah Pagi or familiarly
abbreviated as BSSP. Secerah Pagi is apparently an acronym for Semoga Cepat
Tidy Pekarangan Asri Gemerlap Indah.
"Not just a name, but this prayer, Mas!"
said Dedeh, a middle-aged woman who is in charge of the waste bank when we
visited the BSSP location that afternoon.
Seeing the residents who actively manage the
environment here, Secerah Pagi is indeed a name that represents enthusiasm.
That every activity they do with optimism and full of enthusiasm like the
bright sunshine in the morning.
Every Saturday morning or according to the agreed
schedule, BSSP officers usually go around to pick up waste from house to house.
So they don't just wait for customers to deposit it into the bank.
After being sorted, non-organic waste is then
weighed and recorded in each account book. Uniquely, all residents obeyed when
Agus issued an infak or faksa instruction by setting a selling price below the
market price.
The money from the sale of waste was given to the
next waste pick-up when the waste was finished being sold. Unexpectedly, most
residents even gave up their balances to enlarge BSSP.
"That's a cool benefit!" said Agus in his
distinctive deep voice.
However, residents who feel they need it are still
allowed to take the balance they have.
For reasons of transparency and accountability,
residents agreed to establish the Secerah Pagi Cooperative. Of the
approximately 111 customers, 69 have joined the cooperative. Well, this joint
venture has gradually managed to collect capital of 152 million rupiah which
was accumulated with almost no capital at the beginning.
According to Dedeh, each cooperative member can
access loans ranging from IDR 4-10 million without collateral or complicated
processes. Fund management is carried out on a family basis, so the repayment
tenor is determined according to the agreement with a light addition in order
to expand their own cooperative.
Astra's Significant Support
The growth of the waste bank they manage is also inseparable from the support of PT Asuransi Astra Buana (AAB) Cirebon branch which has been donating their office waste to BSSP as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution. After receiving non-organic waste, BSSP then sells it and reports the sales results to AAB.
This kind of support is very productive because it
is sustainable, so it also spurs the development of waste banks whose results
are used for the welfare of residents, especially in environmental empowerment
programs.
Not only that, Astra also donated 1,500 tree seeds
to support the greening movement and the availability of more oxygen in Merbabu
Asih. Residents said they were happy with this assistance because they felt a
spiritual bond to continue to grow in environmental friendliness with Astra.
Within a certain period, Astra also encouraged the acceleration of ProKlim, one
of which was by building a park that functions both ecologically and
aesthetically.
In addition, Agus and the team have built oxygen
zones at five points. In addition to sheltering travelers and spreading oxygen,
the construction of various climbing plants has apparently been chosen in such
a way that it also produces benefits.
So Agus is right that talking about ProKlim is not
talking about profit, but rather benefits. Fruits such as grapes, passion
fruit, Japanese cucumbers, and grass jelly leaves that climb the poles in the
five oxygen zones can indeed be picked by residents who need them, such as
Japanese cucumbers which are good for lowering high blood pressure.
"Just look at sick people in hospitals who have
to use oxygen. While here we get oxygen from plants. By planting, residents can
feel oxygen." Agus also spread this kind of awareness which was well
received by residents.
Astra Park is located at the main entrance, not only
showing Astra's commitment to environmental sustainability as stated in one of
their visions, namely to become a company that has social responsibility and is
environmentally friendly.
No less important, this park is a positive symbol to
invite anyone to maintain regional culture as symbolized by the mega mendung
batik motif on the garden wall. The Peace of Mind text printed next to it
implies a strong message for us to appreciate Indonesia's diversity which has been
realized in the form of interfaith harmony in KBA Larangan.
Food security is not a slogan
When Agus mentioned that the monthly contributions of Merbabu Asih residents were consistent at a certain figure while in other housing estates they continued to soar, I shook my head.
"Because they are safe in cooperatives, safe in
waste banks, safe in the education sector," Agus answered firmly. The
point is that their economic independence has been formed and is sufficient.
Visitors or guests who come in groups usually also
donate funds by filling a charity box as capital for lunch plus getting
training at KBA Merbabu Asih on environmental management. The guests are then
treated to typical Cirebon cuisine as well as a medium for promoting local
food.
In addition to the success of running a waste bank
that is beneficial for residents, efforts related to food security in this area
also deserve a thumbs up. How could it not be, with limited land in the housing
complex, they can still have a source of food by transforming an empty plot of
land into the Sustainable Food House Area (KRPL).
Owned by a resident, this land was then agreed to be
managed as a farming area, including a place to stand a greenhouse where the
seeding and nursery process takes place.
Not only a greenhouse, this 60 m2 land is planted
with various vegetables and fruits that have been harvested alternately. There
are spinach, kale, bok choy, lime leaves, corn, eggplant, chili, papaya, guava,
and even tubers, all of which can be enjoyed by residents without having to buy
them.
So when residents in other places are screaming
because the price of chilies has skyrocketed, the residents of Merbabu Asih are
actually getting an abundance. The skyrocketing price of chilies has no effect
at all because they never buy them.
As if not wanting to waste it, in the corner of the
KRPL a pond was also made from tarpaulin measuring approximately 1x6 meters
which is planted with tilapia donated by the local agricultural office. These
fish can be harvested when residents want, for example when having a casual
meal at the baperkam.
Another form of food security in the 5.8-hectare RW
was seen when I found green plants filling all the alleys and yards of
residents' houses. Whether in the form of hydroponics or planted in polybags,
residents seem not to want to waste even the smallest piece of land in front of
their houses.
There are always rows of plants, like what I saw in
front of Chaidir's house. Water spinach, chilies, onions, kenikir, starfruit,
papaya, moringa, and even bidara grow well there. Mangoes and guavas donated by
Astra also shade the roads.
It is no exaggeration to say that food security has
become a shared value in KBA Larangan, Cirebon. A collective awareness has been
built to acknowledge human dependence on nature so that we cannot arbitrarily
ignore the environment.
Appreciation and emulation
The unity between religious communities in RW 08 has clearly given birth to collaborative energy in realizing environmental sustainability and independent food security. It is no wonder that the jury and panelists of KBA 2017 named Merbabu Asih as the First Best Astra Bright Village—beating out 5 other finalists throughout Indonesia.
The award also opened up opportunities for outsiders
to learn the secrets of tolerance-based environmental management. No less than
residents of housing complexes from other cities, communities, government
elements, students, and academics have ‘ngangsuh kawruh’ in this beautiful
place. Even a soldier from Indramayu and Kuningan studied at KBA Larangan and
their city was awarded the Adipura while Cirebon was not. Agus admitted that he
was happy and always hoped that the guests could apply better concepts in their
home areas.
Appreciation also came from abroad. It is recorded that foreign guests from Malaysia, Australia, Burma, America, Canada, England, and Sweden have visited and expressed their interest in the simple ProkLim concept that has been successfully implemented in the Merbabu Asih area.
