The certificate ceremony by Kadisnaker Sidoarjo, Dr. Fenny Apridawati SKM MKes (fifth from the right), with representatives of the ITS Community Service team, the head of the Tulangan sub-district, and several participants

Kampus ITS, ITS News – Sidoarjo residents are still often found practicing open defecation, indicating that there is still low awareness of hygienic sanitation. Responding to this, the Community Service (Abmas) team of the Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) initiated a training to increase awareness of healthy sanitation. It is done by creating a sanitation business mindset with great potential in Sidoarjo for four days, starting Wednesday (10/11).

Rifda Zukhrufi Almas, a member of the ITS SDGs Study Center Community Service team, mentioned that this sanitation training aims to produce prospective sanitation entrepreneurs while reducing unemployment. In addition to that, conducting this training also supports the realization of SDGs number 6 regarding access to proper sanitation. “So, through this training, we will achieve several goals at once,” emphasized Rifda.

Rifda further explained that they conducted the business training in two sessions: a material presentation and a practical session. The material presented was related to making healthy latrines, financial management, and market opportunities. “Thus, after the training is completed, participants can implement and build their entrepreneurship,” mentioned Rifda.

Material presentation session to participants at the Hall of the District of Tulangan, Sidoarjo

Furthermore, the practical session in this training focused on the production of latrine construction. Participants will are directly taught how to make a replica of a good latrine. Then, participants were asked to produce their latrines and apply them to the homes of residents who still do not have them. “There are four points of location for houses of different residents spread over four villages in Sidoarjo,” commented Rifda.

This community service activity was carried out utilizing a survey stage before they conducted the actual training. In collaboration with the Manpower Office (Disnaker) of Sidoarjo Regency, the community service team conducted a site survey with minimal sanitation conditions. As a result, three sub-districts were selected to participate in this training, namely Tulangan, Krembung, and Porong Districts. “From the three sub-districts, there is a total of 50 participants who are registered as members of the sanitation business training,” he said.

After the location is determined, the next stage is implementing sanitation business training at the Pendopo, Tulangan District. Ir Eddy Setiadi Soedjono SE PhD, Dr Agnes Tuti Rumiati MSc, Ir Lantip Trisunarno MT, and three ITS Statistics Department students successfully held for four consecutive days smoothly. The outcomes achieved are that participants can produce latrines and run a sanitation business.

Briefing of participants on the practice of making latrines at four predetermined points on the third day of sanitation training

In the end, the woman with glasses said there would be a follow-up plan in the form of further surveys related to open defecation that residents in the three sub-districts were still carrying out after the sanitation business training. “We hope that the enthusiasm for this training will not stop at the presentation for four days but will continue and move other sub-districts to be aware and open sanitation businesses,” he concluded. (ory/ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Irwan Fitranto