Summer in Batu: My Journey with Project Membumi

I don’t know where to start with my summer experience because I have thousands of things to tell. One thing I know is that this summer was so meaningful for me. I got the opportunity to participate in Project Membumi, which focuses on reducing food waste and integrating organic waste installations into a wider scope. The project was led by EcoLiving Community Indonesia, and I was there as a youth volunteer from Myanmar, along with other youth volunteers from respective ASEAN countries. 

My name is Ei Mon Soe, and I am a senior data science student at Parami University. I am interested in environmental sustainability and am committed to Environment, Health, and Safety Myanmar as a research associate. I also love to explore new things, new experiences, and new challenges. 

Even though the project was based in Batu City, Indonesia, it will launch a global waste campaign, encouraging worldwide community participation in reducing food waste. My two weeks in Batu City, Indonesia, were part of the project implementation focusing on three main activities – waste management campaigns, green field trips, and local policy recommendation development. I was so amazed by how EcoLiving Community Indonesia and the local youths there put a lot of effort into the project and how supportive they are of ASEAN youth volunteers. Also, my fellow youth volunteers across ASEAN were so amazing that we cared for each other and built strong friendships that made the whole journey even more meaningful. My moments in Batu, Indonesia, were so incredible and unforgettable that I really don’t want to finish them when I think about it. 

You might ask why you are talking about only the project: what about your role as a youth volunteer there? It is coming. The first activity in terms of the waste management campaign started on the 5th day after I arrived in Batu City, Indonesia. The first 4 days were spent getting training on compost making, eco-enzyme production, visiting green fields trip where I engaged with startups, community-based organizations, social enterprises, and eco-tourism villages, learning different organic waste management approaches. When conducting a green waste campaign, the expected outcomes were to educate 1000 students and 100 teachers from 8 schools, and to get 50 housewives involved by optimizing leftover crops and organic waste into compost and eco-enzyme. My schedule was so tight that I participated from early morning to late evening to educate schools on sustainable food waste management. It is a huge achievement that the project has exceeded expected outcomes. I realized that this is called creating community impact and sustaining our environment. Physically, I was exhausted from visiting eight schools in 4 days, but my spirit of eagerness never faded away. I am always proud when I think about those moments and my role in the campaign as an educator. 

To continue my insights through the Green Field Trip, I visited 2 tourism destinations, 3 social enterprises, 3 eco-tourism villages, 3 community-based organizations, and 1 industry to analyze and reflect on the best practices in waste management, along with all ASEAN youth volunteers. As a result, all ASEAN youth volunteers, including me, gave policy recommendations focusing on organic waste management in Batu City, Indonesia, collaborating with EcoLiving Community Indonesia. It was the moment I will remember for a lifetime. It was the moment that inspired me. It was the moment that motivated me to keep moving forward. 

Last but not least. I had a super amazing, very first lifetime experience where I went to a volcano and did paragliding. I would say, “This summer is one of the best moments of my life.” 

[This essay was written by Ei Mon Soe, a senior-year student majoring in Bachelor's of Statistics and Data Science at Parami University.]