MBKM Students in Malang Take Plogging, Jogging While Collecting Garbage

A total of 11 students in Malang who are participating in the Independent Student Exchange Program in Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) at State University of Malang (UM) are taking on a trending social action, namely plogging. Plogging is a small running activity or jogging while picking up garbage on the street. The term plogging is a combination of Jogging which means a small run and plock up, which means to take. The environmentally friendly social action was carried out on Sunday (19/12/2021) in the Trunojoyo Park area, Klojen District, Malang City. The eleven students are 6 Students from Jambi University, 3 Students from Riau Islamic University, 1 Student from Bosowa University Makassar and 1 Student from Pattimura University. They were guided by Octi Rjeky Mardasari.B.A., MTCSOL as a Supervisor in the Nusantara Module Student program at The State University of Malang.

This Nusantara Module activity consists of Diversity, Reflection, and Inspiration Activities and the last one is the Final Project of Student Activities called Social Contribution. Previously, they also carried out cultural, artistic and social life activities.

Octi said recently Malang was hit by the Batu City Flood disaster, which has had an impact on Malang City. This makes the Social Contribution activity carry the theme of Preventing Disasters by Knowing the Causes.

“Plogging is one of the new trends being promoted worldwide, namely a combination of jogging with littering activities,” he said.

Students start this plogging activity with a route outside Trunojoyo park and continue to the inner area. Then move to the food court and circle the Trunojoyo Street area.

Then go to the Alun Alun Malang area to the Jodipan Colorful Village area and end by regrouping at the starting point. This activity aims to increase public awareness that cleaning the surrounding environment of garbage is essential.

“We also want to introduce a new habit where every time we do activities such as walking when there is garbage, people should be sensitive to disposing of it in their place,” he explained.

he proceeds from this Plogging are then sold with the proceeds of sales given to disaster victims and people in need.

“Pmm children consisting of all over Indonesia have come to Malang city already from a few months ago. Before they came, Malang was experiencing disasters, one of which was a flash flood that had taken a lot of casualties,” he explained.

According to Octi, this natural disaster is one of the consequences of the lack of public awareness of environmental cleanliness. Therefore, the inbound students of the PMM archipelago module suggested choosing plogging activities to become social contributions.

“The reason is to increase public awareness, especially the people of Malang City, about the importance of environmental cleanliness,” he said.

With the Plogging activity, MBKM students in Malang are expected to arouse public awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy and beautiful environment to avoid disasters. (*)