Pekanbaru, August 2, 2025 — In the spirit of creating a clean and sustainable environment, students from the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) Community Service Program (KKN) of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Riau (FISIP UNRI), held an environmental seminar entitled "From Education to Action: Guided Communities, Waste-Free Pekanbaru." The event took place on a bright Saturday afternoon at the courtyard of Az-Zikra Grand Mosque in Sungai Sibam Subdistrict, filled with energy and collaborative spirit.
The seminar served as a forum that brought together ideas, hopes, and concern for the environment. Present to offer moral support and encouragement was the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of FISIP UNRI, Dr. Auradian Marta, S.IP., M.Si. In his opening remarks, he expressed great appreciation for the initiative taken by the KKN MBKM Berdampak students, who have shown genuine concern for environmental issues through an educational and participatory approach.
"This is the kind of spirit we hope to see in the nation’s future. When young people don't just sit in discussions but go directly into the community, that is where real change is born," Dr. Auradian said in his inspiring speech.
The Head of the Organizing Committee also expressed in his remarks that this event was born from deep concern over the increasingly complex waste problems, but also from the belief that great changes always begin with small steps at the local level. He hopes the seminar will open the eyes and hearts of the community to the fact that waste management is not only the responsibility of the government, but a shared duty for all of us.
The seminar featured three competent and inspiring speakers:
1. Reza Aulia Putra, S.STP, Acting Head of Pekanbaru City Environmental and Sanitation Office,
2. Ahmad Jamaan, S.IP., M.Si, Lecturer at FISIP Universitas Riau and field supervisor of the KKN students,
3. and Jendra Effendi, S.Kom, representative from the DELTA SIBAM Waste Management Organization.
In his presentation, Reza Aulia Putra emphasized the importance of synergy between the government and citizens in shifting the paradigm about waste—from something seen as a burden to a valuable resource if properly managed. He also highlighted that waste management is not only about cleanliness, but also about civilization.
Ahmad Jamaan discussed the importance of building environmental literacy, starting from the family level up to educational institutions. According to him, instilling good habits in waste management should start early and be supported by proper knowledge. He encouraged the public to never tire of promoting and practicing clean living in everyday life.
Meanwhile, Jendra Effendi shared inspiring experiences from DELTA SIBAM, which has long been active in engaging the community in grassroots-based waste management. He emphasized that the key to successful environmental management lies in active community participation and consistency in making cleanliness a lifestyle.
The main goal of the seminar was to instill a deep awareness of the importance of wise waste management and to reduce long-term impacts on the increasingly fragile environment due to careless littering. This seminar is part of the broader effort to strengthen a culture of clean living and build a shared commitment toward a more organized, healthier, and waste-free Pekanbaru.
Interestingly, the seminar’s atmosphere grew even more engaging with the presence of diverse participants who actively joined discussions and asked questions, reflecting strong enthusiasm and public concern for environmental issues.
(Enggy)
