Dream on the "Win On Go" River

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Dian Ahmad Sudewo

Almost no rivers in this country have been managed and fully utilized by residents along them. Dian Ahmad Sudewo, 29, a resident of Gedong Kiwo subdistrict, Yogyakarta, has tried to involve young people on the banks of the Winongo River, Yogyakarta, to be able to live on the banks of the river and, in return, to restore the river.

Initially, it was a challenge. In early 2017, Nurcahyo, chairman of RT 042 RW 009 neighborhood in Gedong Kiwo, Mantrijeron district, challenged Dian Ahmad Sudewo to do something for the Winongo River. The river is one of eight that flow through Yogyakarta. Residents of Gedong Kiwo have lived on the banks of the river for generations.

"The RT chairman\'s request really challenged me. There must be something that attracts young people to manage the river. Before going to bed at night, I uttered the word Winongo several times, then I got the term ‘Win On Go’. To memorize it, I quickly wrote it down and the next day it was discussed with the chairman of RT, who apparently supports it," said Dian.

Dian, the special envoy of the Youth and Sports Ministry to campaign for A Beautiful and Clean Environment, then introduced Win On Go to young people around the riverbanks. Dian began by embracing his close friends, then expanding to all young people in Gedong Kiwo.

They discussed how to empower people along the riverbanks, including steps to preserve the environment.

The Gedong Kiwo youths turned out to be very enthusiastic about the term "Win On Go". Every evening, night or holiday, they discussed it at Dian\'s house. They discussed how to empower people along the riverbanks, including steps to preserve the environment.

Dian then transformed an empty room measuring 4 by 6 square meters next to his house into a secretariat for Win On Go. At the office, the discussions of the young people became more intense. They share a common goal to live beside the Winongo River.

The Win On Go slogan was then used as a branding for small and medium businesses, culture, social and even the environment of Winongo. “Win” means to win, which is to win the social life of the community and the local environment. “On” means alive, fresh, healthy and constantly moving. “Go” means to go anywhere possible while able.

Empowerment

As a concrete step, Dian started the empowerment of the people’s economy using the Win On Go brand. He began to market culinary products that are sold online. About 8,000 boxes of Win On Go rice, for example, have already been bought by the Yogyakarta city administration. The general public buys Win On Go branded rice for Rp 18,000 per box.

This group of young people led by Dian also started marketing Gedong Kiwo-made gudeg, called Gudeg Winongo. The culinary product has been registered in the Jogja "Nglarisi" app, which is part of the Jogja Smart Service (JSS) an integrated service application of the Yogyakarta city administration.

In order to promote the activity of Gedong Kiwo\'s youths, they also sell T-shirts that read Win On Go. One shirt is sold for Rp 85,000 and is welcomed enthusiastically by residents of Yogyakarta.

They were invited to practice under the the guidance of the Yogyakarta City Cooperative and SME Office.

Since the last two years, Dian has also been active in gathering up to 200 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) along the banks of Winongo. They were invited to practice under the the guidance of the Yogyakarta City Cooperative and SME Office.

Currently, data updating is being done to support online sales. As requested by the Yogyakarta city administration, MSME products will be sold online for wider marketing reach.

Not only physical

"All this time, the development on the riverbank has only been physical, namely the talud [embankment]. My friends and I focus instead on building the economic, cultural, social, ecosystem and recreation, or tourism sectors. The goal is to improve the quality of life of the community, maintain culture, community traditions and ultimately develop the river," said Dian.

According to the graduate of the Indonesia Islamic University of Yogyakarta, the idea of Win On Go has entered the Yogyakarta City’s program called Kotaku, a portmanteau for Kota Tanpa Kumuh (City without Slums). Along the banks of the Winongo River, there will be talud, but later some locations will be equipped with rest areas that look toward the river.

The master plan for the restructuring of Winongo, from RW 009 to RW 018 in Gedong Kiwo, especially related to tourist destinations, cuisine and the environment, has been prepared by a group of young people under Dian\'s leadership. But currently it is still being publicized to get input from the community.

While waiting for the publicity of the riverbank master plan, Gedong Kiwo youth was campaigning to protect the Winongo River. A total of 19 takmir (mosque administrators) in Gedong Kiwo, for example, before Idul Adha, were invited to get an understanding of the slaughter of animals that are environmentally friendly and in accordance with health standards.

We have prepared 8,000 pieces of oxium plastic, which is more environmentally friendly. This plastic bag degrades in two years. While conventional plastic needs up to 500 years to degrade.

So far, the slaughtered animals were cleansed along the riverbank so that the waste pollutes the river. Dian and her friends also suggested residents to use oxium plastic for the meats to be distributed to the needy. "We have prepared 8,000 pieces of oxium plastic, which is more environmentally friendly. This plastic bag degrades in two years. While conventional plastic needs up to 500 years to degrade," said Dian.

For his initiative, in 2018, Dian was selected to represent the Yogyakarta province to be present at the Youth and Sports Ministry in Jakarta, along with a number of representatives from 34 provinces.

He presented Win On Go, which contains goals and concrete steps of young people along the Winongo River. Finally, Dian and three representatives from Aceh, Maluku and Central Sulawesi were chosen to be ambassadors for the environment.

"Now, I am starting an activity to clean up the rivers in anticipation of the rainy season. This river must provide clear water and flow through the sea and our dream as young people also flows clearly until the end," said Dian.

The riverbanks of Winongo will no longer be a slum area if all parties want to sacrifice and want to move together to start. When the young people, like Dian, make achievements, it is expected that the chirping of drembombok (white-breasted waterhen) birds will again color the banks of the Winongo River, which continues to be reforested.

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Dian Ahmad Sudewo (wearing white T-shirt) and the head of neighborhood unit (RT) 42/9 in Gedong Kiwo subdistict, Nurcahyo.

Dian Ahmad Sudewo

Born: Yogyakarta, 20 March 1990

Education: Accountancy from Indonesia Islamic University, Yogyakarta

Position: Chairman of Win On Go, Yogyakarta

Envoy: Special Envoy of the Youth and Sports Ministry for Beautiful and Clean Environment