YMCA MALANG, Indonesia: Earth Clean-Up Campaign & a Car Free Day Malang
Last Updated (Friday, 05 June 2026 20:07)
YMCA MALANG, Indonesia: Earth Clean-Up Campaign & a Car Free Day Malang
Environmental awareness through collective action
On Sunday, May 3, 2026, 20 Uni Y members and youth volunteers from the YMCA Malang and the community participated in an environmental campaign during Car Free Day (CFD) in Malang, titled the Earth Clean-Up Campaign. This initiative was organized as a simple yet meaningful effort to encourage greater public awareness about environmental cleanliness and the importance of reducing waste in public spaces. By combining direct action with public engagement, the activity aimed to inspire people to take small but impactful steps toward protecting the environment.
The campaign was carried out through a plogging activity, a combination of jogging or walking while collecting litter along the way. Volunteers walked around the CFD area while picking up scattered waste such as plastic bottles, food wrappers, paper, plastic bags, and other disposable materials commonly found in crowded public spaces. Equipped with trash bags and gloves, participants worked together enthusiastically to help create a cleaner and healthier environment for the community.
The activity also highlighted the growing issue of waste pollution in urban areas, especially during large public gatherings such as Car Free Day. Although CFD is intended to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce vehicle emissions, the large number of visitors often results in increased waste generation. Through this campaign, YMCA Malang hoped to remind the public that maintaining environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility that requires collective awareness and consistent action.
Beyond collecting trash, the volunteers also interacted with members of the public and shared simple messages about environmental responsibility. The campaign encouraged people to reduce single-use plastics, dispose of waste properly, and develop more sustainable daily habits. Many visitors responded positively to the activity, with some expressing appreciation for the initiative and others showing curiosity about the concept of plogging itself. These interactions created opportunities for meaningful conversations about environmental care and community participation.
For the Uni Y and youth volunteers of YMCA Malang, this activity became more than just a clean-up effort. It also served as a moment of reflection on the relationship between humans and nature, as well as the importance of contributing directly to the surrounding environment. Through collaborative action, participants experienced how small efforts carried out together can create visible positive impacts and inspire broader environmental awareness within society. It is hoped that initiatives like this will continue to inspire more people and community, especially young generations, to participate actively in protecting the earth through simple actions in daily life.
By Gracetya Nanda Kejora and Alphinus Kambodji