Jakarta Acting Governor, Heru Budi Hartono received Dani Arwanto, Head of RT 07/01, Tugu Utara Urban Village, Koja, North Jakarta at City Hall, Wednesday (6/7). He is the recipient of the Kalpataru Award in the 2023 Environmental Pioneer category.

Acting Governor gave directions, the efforts carried out by Mr. Arwanto could become an example

He took the initiative to change the environment where he lived into a safe, clean, healthy, orderly place, and wanted to change the behavior of his residents to be more concerned about the environment.

To realize his intention in 2016, he started by inviting his RT/RW colleagues in Tugu Utara Sub-district to carry out the Green Alley Movement, which is named Gang Hijau Cemara 01.

The Gang Hijau Cemara 01 Movement received a good response from the residents, activities developed from only greening the alley environment to the formation of the Gang Hijau Cemara 01 Farmers Group by inviting youth youth organizations to cultivate imported and local grapevines (seeds and fruit), vegetables, ornamental plants, and fish whose utilization is for the food security of locals.

He also developed activities in the waste management sector, inviting residents of RW 01 to sort organic and inorganic waste. He also established an Early Childhood Education school with a payment system of two kg of inorganic waste per month. It is not only very helpful for residents in getting easy access to education, but also attracts residents to participate in waste management.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), we have just been invited by the Acting Governor that there are our residents who have the opportunity to become recipients of the Pioneer Kalpataru Award in the North Jakarta area," North Jakarta Mayor, Ali Maulana Hakim.

Apart from being a community leader, Arwanto is also known as a mobilizer for residents to be aware and concerned about the environment on how to manage waste, care for the environment, and initiate urban farming in urban farming.

"Acting Governor gave directions, the efforts carried out by Mr. Arwanto could become an example and be imitated by the surrounding community," he continued.

Then the place where he lives is one of the locations known to be dirty with the behavior of its residents who like to litter and are apathetic towards the environment. But thanks to his persistence, he invited the community to change the environment to be green and productive.

"Alhamdulillah, our efforts and those of the RT administrators in RW 01 and supported by youth organizations are now bearing fruit, thus our place becomes a beautiful and productive environment. Mr. Acting Governor appreciated the programs carried out starting from empowering young people to doing urban farming. We also educate PAUD students about protecting the environment from an early age," he stated.