IPB University Innovation KKN-T Students Empower Kertamanah Village Community, Turn Bamboo Waste into Briquettes
An initiative was carried out by IPB University Innovation Thematic Real Work Lecture (KKN-T) students with the aim of contributing to community development in the Kertamanah Village area, Sukasari District, Purwakarta Regency, West Java. In this Innovation KKN-T program, IPB University students provide counseling and training on processing bamboo waste into environmentally friendly briquettes. Students also provide training on marketing through social media.
IPB University student representative, Aryo Kurnia Ramadhan, said the counseling and training were conducted as an effort to introduce new ways of utilizing bamboo, especially bamboo waste. According to him, the potential of processing bamboo into briquettes can be used as an alternative energy source.
“Kertamanah Village has a main commodity, bamboo, which is very abundant. This bamboo briquette has advantages in terms of sustainability and environmental friendliness, and can reduce community dependence on fossil fuels,” he said during the counseling at the Kertamanah Village Hall.
In addition to training on processing bamboo into briquettes, IPB University Innovation KKN-T students also provide knowledge about marketing through social media to the local community. Arya said, in this digital era the use of social media has become one of the most effective and efficient marketing tools.
“IPB University students help the community in understanding basic marketing strategies and techniques through social media and e-commerce platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Shopee, and Tokopedia. The community is taught about the importance of building interesting content, managing accounts well, and utilizing the creative features provided by the platform,” Arya explained.
He stated that with activities like this, it is hoped that the community can optimize the use of bamboo as a sustainable resource, and master marketing strategies through social media to expand their market reach.
Jalal, one of the training participants and also an organizer of the Kertamanah Village Youth Organization expressed his appreciation for the contribution of the IPB University Innovation KKN-T students. “I am very grateful to IPB University students who have provided inspiration and knowledge about processing bamboo into briquettes. In addition, this social media marketing training is also very helpful for the community in understanding how to use social media and e-commerce applications if they want to sell later.”
Dede Aulia Rahman as the field supervisor added, “The initiative carried out by the IPB University Innovation KKN-T students is a clear example of collaboration between universities and the community in an effort to improve the quality of life and advance the region. It is hoped that this kind of activity can continue and have a wider positive impact on the community.”
The activity initiated by the IPB University Innovation KKN-T team in Kertamanah Village was chaired by Dhiya Sri Janarto and consisted of Sara Situmorang, Kharissa Nurmanita Kusuma, Aryo Kurnia Ramadhan, Dhara Devona Lutsfi, Auliyaa Fayzah Sangadji, Danil Wahyudi Munajat, Ardhini Muslihatun Aminah, Wahyu Nur Halimah dan Arinamelia Putri Salsabila. (*/Rz) (IAAS/SHY)
