PPK Ormawa BEM KM UNAND Strengthens Coastal Economy and Environmental Awareness in Pasia Nan Tigo in Support of SDG 8 and SDG 14

BEM KM Universitas Andalas has carried out a series of community empowerment activities in the coastal area of Pasia Nan Tigo, Padang City, through the Student Organization Capacity Strengthening Program (PPK Ormawa). This initiative is aligned with SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 14 on Life Below Water, as the program not only strengthens the economic capacity of fishermen’s families but also promotes concrete efforts to preserve the coastal environment.

The program was implemented through two main components, namely Taratak Bahari and Naturavita, both of which were developed collaboratively with the local community. Under the Taratak Bahari program, BEM KM UNAND worked to improve residents’ capacity in managing marine products and utilizing marine waste. Fisherwomen received training in product diversification, such as the production of shrimp paste and fish bone flour, while fishermen’s children were equipped with digital marketing and packaging design skills to support the promotion of family products.

Meanwhile, the Naturavita program focused on coastal environmental preservation through a range of practical actions. In the Pasir Jambak area, hundreds of Public Health students from Universitas Andalas carried out a beach clean-up campaign and succeeded in collecting 499.87 kilograms of waste, dominated by plastic and domestic refuse. The activity was followed by the planting of 450 mangrove seedlings, 100 sea pine seedlings, and 37 pinago trees as part of efforts to maintain the sustainability of the coastal ecosystem.

To support the success of the activity, participants first received education from mangrove expert Dr. Ir. Eni Kamal, M.Sc., as well as technical guidance from Pati Hariyose of Jambak Sea Turtle Camp on proper planting methods. In addition, the Naturavita program also included maggot cultivation and the processing of fish waste into compost fertilizer. These efforts demonstrate that coastal environmental management can be carried out in an integrated manner, ranging from waste reduction to turning waste into products of greater value.

Community participation in the program was also highly active. Fishermen’s groups, housewives, youth, and kelurahan officials were involved in every stage of the activities, with support from the Pasia Nan Tigo Village Government. Support also came from the Community Guidance Unit Head of Koto Tangah Police Sector, Iptu Zulkifli, who expressed appreciation for the initiative. The village government also assessed the program as having strong potential for sustainability because it had encouraged the formation of productive groups ready to independently develop marine-based businesses.

Overall, the program shows that student activities can become a meaningful form of community service with direct impact on society. By strengthening fishermen’s family businesses while also taking concrete action to maintain the cleanliness and sustainability of coastal areas, PPK Ormawa BEM KM UNAND has presented an empowerment model that combines community economic development with long-term environmental stewardship.