Awareness Campaign for Environmental Action and Climate Change for Tourism Vocational High School Students in Pero Konda Tourism Village, Southwest Sumba
Penulis: Agustina Purnami Setiawi, Programme Officer Field Office Sumba
Editor: Firra Kholisha Mustika, Communication
Pero Konda Village is one of the tourist villages in Southwest Sumba Regency which is visited by local people and tourists. It offers marine tourism attractions, namely mangrove trails, sunset views, and local seafood processed foods. With the increasing number of tourists, it will contribute to an increase in the amount of waste, especially plastic waste. This plastic waste is difficult to decompose, thus contributing to the complexity of the problem of waste and marine pollution.
In response to this, the DESMA Center conducted an Awareness Campaign for Environmental Action and Climate Change for Tourism Vocational High School Students in Pero Konda Tourism Village, Southwest Sumba. Held on Wednesday, 26 July 2023 in the coastal area and mangrove area of Pero Konda Village, Kodi District, Southwest Sumba Regency (SBD).
This activity aims to (1) increase awareness about climate change and environmental issues that affect tourism, (2) educate sustainable practices in the tourism sector, especially waste, (3) invite students to contribute to environmental conservation efforts, (4) and inspire participants students become agents of change for sustainable tourism.
115 people attended, consisting of student representatives majoring in tourism, accompanying teachers and DESMA Center assisted school principals. Also attendingMrs. Adriana M.D. Ngongo, S.Pd., M.Pd.K.,Supervision Coordinator (Korwas) SMA/SMK/SLB P&K Office of NTT Province for Southwest Sumba and West Sumba Regencies; Representative for the Department of the Environment SBD; Village Head Pero Konda and his staff; Head of BUMDes Pero Indah; Head of Bank NTT USPD Kori; Mrs. Pupu Purwaningsih (MISEREOR local coordinator for Indonesia); Representative from the Gita Pertiwi Consortium; Environmental Care Community Representative (KODUKUNG); Head of OMK Parish Bondo Kodi; Representatives from tourism associations (Indonesian Tour Guide Association, Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association, and Association of The Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies); and Koramil 1629/02.
This activity consists of two sessions. The first session of beach clean-up action by sorting garbage. The majority of waste found at the beach location is plastic packaging waste. The second session of mangrove education related to types, how to plant, care for and benefits in dealing with climate change and protecting ecosystems on the coast. The educational material was delivered by Muhammad Arief from the Office of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the NTT Province Sumba Branch Office, Joshua Argentino Tampubolon from the National Water Conservation Area Center (BKKPN), Hendrik Riwu and Yance from Friends of Mangrove Malolo.
At the end of the activity, Mr. Marthen Christian Taka, S.IP., as Deputy Regent of SBD, gave directions regarding the importance of awareness of environmental issues and climate change. "Real action to care for the environment, especially reducing plastic packaging waste and protecting the mangrove ecosystem, is the responsibility of all parties, both the community, tourists, industry and government."
Supporting this statement, the DESMA Center represented by Boyke Hutapea, Program Manager of the DESMA Center – Field Office Sumba handed over 2 (two) sets of waste sorting sites to Pero Konda Village which were received directly by Koda Sigore, as the Village Head.
Awareness Campaign for Environmental Action and Climate Change for Tourism Vocational High School Students in Pero Konda Tourism Village, Southwest Sumba be a part of Program TVET for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sumba implemented by the DESMA Center.
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The TVET Program for Sustainable Tourism Development in Sumba is supported by MISEREOR/KZE; implemented by the DESMA Center. Strengthening Tourism HR Capacity aims to realize "The tourism vocational school education program in Sumba so that it meets the needs and requirements of the tourism industry, thereby offering better job opportunities for young people and supporting sustainable tourism in Sumba."
This program includes strengthening (1) the management capacity of tourism vocational schools that are in line with the independent curriculum and the concept of sustainable tourism; (2) Teacher capacity in pedagogical knowledge, about sustainable teaching and tourism (3) Tourism Industry Vocational Vocational School Partnership; and (4) the entrepreneurial capacity of students in creating sustainable tourism businesses.
The direct beneficiaries of this program are (1) SMK Pancasila – Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba; (2) State Vocational School 2 Tambolaka City, Southwest Sumba; (3) Bakti Luhur Vocational School – Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba; (4) Efata Vocational School - Omba Rade, Southwest Sumba; and (5) SMK Negeri 1 Waikabubak, West Sumba. The direct partners of this program are (1) the Education & Culture Office of East Nusa Tenggara Province; (2) Southwest Sumba Regency Government; (3) West Sumba Regency Government; (4) Tourism Office of Southwest Sumba Regency; and (5) West Sumba Regency Tourism Office.
