23 Sep Strengthening Women’s Voices on Waste Management in Ay-Rhun Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA)

On August 15, 2024, CTC in collaboration with local partners, launched the waste management program in Ay-Rhun Islands MPA, part of Banda MPA Network. The event resulted from the waste management study conducted by CTC earlier this year. The study aimed to analyze the existing waste management system and develop plastic waste management options and recommendations for the Banda Islands.

This event brought together 29 participants, including the representatives of the village government, community leaders, women’s groups, Pokmaswas (Kelompok Masyarakat Pengawas – community surveillance group) and school teachers. In addition to the program launch, the event also served as a platform to discuss future waste management plans in Rhun Island. A key outcome of the discussion was the recommendation for the women’s group to participate in the village’s annual planning meetings to formally secure an allocation from the village’s financial system.

“We hope this initiative will be officially included in the annual budget discussions for village development, allowing for long-term planning and sustainability of the waste management program,” said Salihi Surahi, Head of Rhun Village.

The program has gained additional support from local stakeholders, including SMP 82 Rhun teacher Aziz Latora, who attended the launch. “We are happy to support this initiative and will work to integrate it into our school’s extracurricular activities, such as offering books in exchange for collected plastic waste.”

The waste management first came from the efforts of a religious women’s group concerned about plastic pollution. Ibu Masnah, the group’s leader, shared that she initiated the movement after seeing the growing threat of plastic waste affecting her small island.

“We couldn’t just stand by and watch our island become overrun with plastic. We knew we had to start action,” said Ibu Masnah during the Women in Fisheries and Marine Conservation Learning Exchange in Bali.

The event also resulted in the plan to renovate the waste handling station as well as provide training to the women in the community about bookkeeping, handling waste, and developing products, supported by the Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund. Through the waste management program, CTC also hopes to engage the whole community in reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment, ensuring a cleaner, healthier future for Ay-Rhun MPA.

Writers: Adam Putra, Laode Junaidin, Kasman, Purwanto
Photos: Kasman/CTC, Laode Junaidin/CTC

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