BUILDING GREEN LIVELIHOODS FOR INDONESIAN MIGRANTS THROUGH WASTE SORTING INITIATIVES
Abstract
This community empowerment initiative aims to promote sustainable livelihoods among Indonesian migrant workers in Penang, Malaysia, by providing education on waste sorting and promoting circular economy practices. Many migrant workers face limited economic opportunities, poor access to environmental knowledge, and inadequate formal waste management systems in their residential areas. To address these challenges, the program conducted participatory workshops on waste literacy, basic waste processing, and entrepreneurship using recyclable materials. A mini waste drop-off center managed by the migrants was also established to demonstrate practical waste sorting. The initiative led to increased environmental awareness, improved waste-handling behavior, and the potential for the development of small-scale, green businesses. Pre- and post-assessment showed a significant increase in participants' understanding and motivation to implement sustainable practices. This program not only fosters environmental responsibility but also encourages the creation of community-based waste-to-resource initiatives. By combining economic empowerment with environmental stewardship, the project contributes to inclusive development. It supports the university's commitment to community-based learning and international collaboration. The outcomes of this initiative offer a replicable model for other migrant communities facing similar socio-environmental vulnerabilities.
Downloads
References
Albizzati, P. F., Tonini, D., & Astrup, T. F. (2024). Addressing the challenges in municipal waste management: A comprehensive review. Waste Management, 156, 116–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2023.12.001
Andeobu, L., Wibowo, S., & Grandhi, S. (2022). Artificial intelligence applications for sustainable solid waste management practices in Australia: A systematic review. Science of the Total Environment, 834, 155389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155389
Banyan Nation. (2024). Integrating the Informal Sector for Sustainable Waste Management. https://www.banyannation.com/blog/integrating-informal-sector-for-sustainable-waste-management/
Bhattacharya, R., Kumar, A., & Sharma, P. (2024). Impact of inadequate waste management on public health and environment: A global perspective. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(5), 6992–7007. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-31215-3
Bustami, M. R., Ekowanti, L., Nasruddin, E., & Fahrudin, A. (2021). Are you happy working in Malaysia? Experiences of Indonesian migrant workers in neighboring Penang Island, part of the Nusantara Malay Archipelago. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT), 12(9), 3002–3016. https://doi.org/10.17762/turcomat.v12i9.4739
Cargo, M., & Mercer, S. L. (2020). The Value and Challenges of Participatory Research: Strengthening Its Practice. Annual Review of Public Health, 41(1), 79–99. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094217
Chiles, R. M., Goulas, E., & Trivedi, A. (2021). Circular economy and the food system: A review of global policy trends and recommendations for the future. Sustainability, 13(2), 998. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020998
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Chow, K. Y. (2024, July 21). Penang's Chief Minister on turning a rich history into a dynamic future. Time Magazine. https://time.com/7000278/penang-chow-kon-yeow-interview/
International Labour Organization. (2024). TRIANGLE in ASEAN Quarterly Briefing Note: Malaysia (Q3–Q4 2023). https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/QBN%20Q3-Q4%202023_MALAYSIA%20final.pdf
International Organization for Migration. (2021). Strengthening the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia. https://indonesia.iom.int/news/strengthening-protection-indonesian-migrant-workers-malaysia
Ihsanullah, I., Jamal, A., Ilyas, M., Zubair, M., & Al-Khaldi, A. (2022). Artificial intelligence applications for sustainable solid waste management: A review. Chemosphere, 292, 133210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133210
Kamdani, M., Pradani, D., Rachman, R., & Damayanti, Y. (2020). Community-based waste management in urban poor areas: A strategy to support SDGs. Journal of Environmental Policy and Management, 23(3), 214–230.
Kirchherr, J., Reike, D., & Hekkert, M. (2022). Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 180, 106109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.106109
Nasution, M. D. T., Lubis, H. M., & Pane, H. (2023). Empowering rural women through environmental entrepreneurship in North Sumatra. Journal of Social Development Studies, 10(1), 45–55.
Purba, H. H., Nainggolan, E. P., & Siregar, R. R. (2019). Waste bank as a community-based environmental governance model: A case study in Medan City. International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, 10(4), 100–104. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijesd.2019.10.4.1152
Putri, C. E., Damayanti, N., & Hamzah, R. E. (2020). Sadfishing phenomenon of #Justiceforaudrey (Hashtag) on Twitter. Mediator: Jurnal Komunikasi, 13(1), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.29313/mediator.v13i1.5598
Rogers, M., Matejek, B., & Dumaresq, D. (2020). Teaching for circularity: Enhancing students' engagement with the circular economy through project-based learning. Journal of Cleaner Production, 275, 123006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123006
Situmorang, H. M., Gultom, R. E., & Manurung, T. S. (2018). Urban green livelihood and social capital: Empowerment program for waste pickers. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Indonesia, 2(2), 115–125.
Suratnoaji, C., Arianto, I. D., & Sumardjijati. (2018). Strength map of presidential candidates 2019 in Indonesia based on a NodeXL analysis of big data from Twitter. Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research, 6(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.15206/ajpor.2018.6.1.31
Wallerstein, N., Duran, B., Oetzel, J., & Minkler, M. (2018). Community-Based Participatory Research for Health: Advancing Social and Health Equity (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
World Bank. (2018). What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid waste management to 2050. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317
Yuliani, M., Dewi, R. A., & Setiawan, D. (2021). Circular Economy Education for Indonesian Migrant Workers: Pilot Results from Penang. Asian Journal of Community Development, 5(2), 60–74.
Zimmerman, M. A. (2000). Empowerment theory: Psychological, organizational,nal, and community levels of analysis. In J. Rappaport & E. Seidman (Eds.), Handbook of community psychology (pp. 43–63). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4193-6_2
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
