Astra for Green Indonesia in Pramuka Island

Astra for Green Indonesia in Pramuka Island

PT Astra International Tbk together with employees of Astra Group, journalists, and bloggers, in two days (September 27-28, 2018) carry out a ‘green action’ in Astra Green Village Pramuka Island in Seribu Islands, one of 77 Astra Green Villages spread out in 34 provinces all over Indonesia.

In this year ‘green action’, Astra invited the participants to explore as well as learn several environmental-friendly activities, such as observing ways of working of a bio-digester, an infiltration well, urban farming, eco-brick making, and planting 500 mangrove trees and coral reefs as an effort to prevent abrasion and damage of sea ecosystem.

All activities in Astra Green Village Pramuka Island emphasize on environmental aspect since wastes have been a serious problem in the life of people in islands since then until now. Thus, it needs various innovative ways to respond to it.

It is Mahariah, a 49-year old teacher of elementary school, born in Panggang Island of Seribu Islands, who becomes an influencing and trustworthy figure that can encourage other people to resolve many problems regarding waste, and other problems about environment, economics, and social.

Since 15 years ago, Mahariah with her small team developed an eco-tourism program, a environmental-friendly tourism program that puts forward the aspects of nature conservation, local socio-culture and economic empowerment, and education.

Along with the positive activities by Mahariah and her team, Astra facilitated several coaching activities that refer to the four pillars of Astra’s sustainable social contribution, which are health, education, environment, and entrepreneurship which was then proclaimed as Astra Green Village Pramuka Island in 2015.

In term of health, Astra trains health cadres in supporting the Healthy Indonesia Program. In term of education, Astra gives coaching to adiwiyata school, develops early-age children education with by utilizing the Child-Friendly Integrated Public Space, and supports scholarships for elementary, junior high, and senior high school students. While in term of entrepreneurship, there is a coaching program for small and medium enterprises with sukun chips as the featured product.

In term of environment, the activity focuses on waste management and clean water supply. Some of the activities are waste bank management, organic waste collection for bio-digester to produce biogas for cooking, plastic bottle reuse for eco-friendly bricks (eco-bricks), styrofoam waste remake for crafts, as well as rainwater storage and organic vegetables home-farming.

With such hard work and sincerity, it is expected that one day Mahariah and the people of Pramuka Island will actualize the tagline they promote: My Island is Zero-Waste (Pulauku Nol Sampah).

Mahariah’s enthusiasm in striving to take care of the environment is in line with Astra’s philosophy on the first Catur Dharma, to be the Beneficial Asset to the Nation.