World Cleanup Day - September 4th 2022 [ENG]

“If you want to go fast go alone, If you want to go far, go together.”

World Cleanup Day (WCD) is an action dedicated to the environment that is held simultaneously in 191 countries around the world with the aim of uniting people from various cultures, religions, ethnicities and races to cleanse the world from the problematic issue of manmade wastes. This action is an embodiment of increasing awareness towards this issue and is a means of cultivating the value of love for the future of the Earth.

World Cleanup Day Indonesia (WCDI) was first introduced by Let’s Do It! Indonesia in 2014. Let's Do It! Indonesia is an organization under the support of Let's Do It! The World Movement collaborates with various communities to form a national core team organization in Indonesia with the aim of leading the world’s largest garbage cleaning movement.

The World Cleanup Day action in Indonesia has been successfully carried out from 2018-2021 with a total of 22,694,328 volunteers, 43,234,680 kg of garbage cleaned, and involving 7,813 communities, 641 companies, and 353 universities. In 2021, with the theme “Uniting for a Cleaner Indonesia”, WCDI has become a momentum of unity for the Indonesians to initiate change along with impact in environmental care. The activity was held thanks to the support of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries through the “Clean Indonesia Movement” and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry through the “National Movement for Waste Sorting from Home”.

In 2022, WCDI activities will carry the theme "We are 13 Million Towards a Clean and Waste-Free Indonesia" with simultaneous clean up actions from 10-25 September. This theme was raised as a manifestation of the spirit of unity towards a clean Indonesia through a network of leaders, partners, and the entire community in the #Kami13Juta campaign. It is hoped that as many as 13 million volunteers or five percent of the Indonesian population can take part in this year's action and become a part of the history of the world's largest garbage collection collective action. World Cleanup Day Indonesia (WCDI) 2022 will be held in 34 provinces and in hundreds of cities or districts throughout Indonesia.

Soon after the first meeting on August 27th 2022, Mr. Aries, the head of WCD community in Batam invited SMA Maitreyawira Batam for the second time to participate in the activity. The date was set on September 4th 2022, with the chosen students from class XI-IBB (11th graders of the Culture and Language Studies) and the destination to Barelang Bridge 1. For further information, we’ve asked a few things to a few individuals who represent SMA Maitreyawira in forms of interview.“SMA Maitreyawira is a school that loves nature and is environmentally friendly, so that with this WCD activity, it is in accordance with the school’s vision, mission, and goals.” stated Mr. Rudian, the person in charge of SMA Maitreyawira’s activity with WCD and the English teacher of the students involved

Aside from Mr. Rudian, we also asked a few queries to another teacher who also participated in the activity. “My view about the WCD activity in Barelang yesterday was very pleasant, it had a positive influence on me personally. I am also happy and support this WCD community in keeping the environment clean, especially the waste problem which is a crucial problem for us every day.” stated Ms. Toyibah, the homeroom teacher of class XI-IBB.

“The positive impact that can be taken from yesterday’s WCD activity in Barelang is that we can improve our social spirit and our sense of humanity, especially towards environmental issues. We can take a minimal role from ourselves. By supporting and participating in WCD activities in Barelang yesterday, it also provided benefits for students in their learning process outside the classroom. They are actively involved in cleaning the environment in the Barelang 1 Bridge area, Batam City.” continued Ms. Toyibah.

The students who participated were also active in participating in the activity, “We exercised together and cleaned up the area by picking up any trash we’ve spotted.” said Sovy, one of the students from SMA Maitreyawira Batam. “I feel happy and motivated to take better care of the environment now.”

Moreover, Sovy also quoted, “While participating in this activity, I realized that there is a lot of garbage that takes away the beauty of our mother nature. This makes me feel motivated to take more care of our nature to preserve it, hence the importance of keeping the environment clean.”

“There are 3 things that I got from the WCD activity. First, being able to socialize with various organizations participating in the WCD action. Second,witnessing the enthusiasm and fun of the Maitreyawira High School students in participating in this activity. Finally, meeting people and communities who also care about the environment.” said Mr. Rudian wholeheartedly.

Ms. Toyibah also stated her hopes and expectations for the WCD activity, “I hope that in the future, the WCD activity will have an impact on the community, especially regarding the problem of wastes which can cause a climate crisis for our beloved Earth. And hopefully many people and communities will be involved in environmental issues too. As well as for the students involved, hopefully it will provide a very valuable experience and foster a sense of concern for the environment and grow a high sense of mutual cooperation.”

While environmental issues are time sensitive, climate change is a ticking bomb waiting for it’s moment to explode, we can change it. Postpone it, extend it, or even stop it. First step is to start from yourself. Look around, your environment, people’s environment, our Earth. Pick up all the displaced trash you see and place them in their designated place. Remind others to care and take action as well, it takes you and me and them to do this. We, as the people inhabiting planet Earth, have the utmost responsibility to preserve our home, if not us, then who will?

This isn’t the end to our adventure with the World Cleanup Day action! The next meeting will be held on September 17th, visit our next article to find out how much fun we had!