Margaretha Subekti, often called Oma Bekti, is the woman behind waste management efforts in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. Oma Bekti started her journey in East Flores in 1990, by joining the Sedon Senaren Lamaholot Solidarity Foundation. Her active participation in women's empowerment efforts through the foundation led to her arrival in Labuan Bajo.

The Yogyakarta native started mentoring micro business groups around Kampung Air in West Manggarai Regency in 2014. However, as industrial development improved, there was an adverse impact of the waste produced on the surrounding environment. The increasingly worrying and polluting conditions sparked Oma Bekti's passion to start waste management efforts in Labuan Bajo. "My hope is that waste can be created into new products that are useful and have market value," she said.

She began her efforts by providing education and socialization to the surrounding community, regarding ways to reduce the use of single-use plastics. "I am well aware that the waste problem is not only the responsibility of government agencies. But the contribution of the community also has an important role, especially in management efforts at the household scale."

Initially, the waste management movement was still considered foreign by most people. Not infrequently, Oma Bekti received rejection from various parties. The impression generated at that time was that waste was something dirty and less prestigious, but this did not discourage Oma Bekti from contributing to waste management efforts.

KSU Sampah Komodo

Oma Bekti's persistence was proven by initiating the birth of Koperasi Serba Usaha (KSU) Sampah Komodo with several colleagues in November 2014. The aim of the KSU is to make Labuan Bajo a clean and litter-free tourist destination. Through the participation of its 25 members, until 2020 KSU Sampah Komodo has managed to manage 87.5 tons of waste. The management of plastic waste is carried out with the help of shredding machines and press machines. The processed plastic waste is then resold to several cities such as Bali and Surabaya.

"Managing waste is like raising a child. It takes patience, persistence, and dedication," said Oma Bekti. Beyond the cooperative's 25 permanent members, success is made possible by the support of volunteers, the majority of whom are housewives and members of the disability community. On a regular basis, Oma Bekti and the volunteers will collect waste in the surrounding area, to be sorted according to type. After that, the waste will be cleaned and processed for sale or also produced into economically valuable recycled products.

Some of the products produced are: aprons and shopping bags from cooking oil packaging, and coasters from plastic mineral water bottle caps. Oma Bekti's hope to create waste into reusable products has become a reality. The results of these handicrafts are then marketed through various exhibitions which then return to the cooperative's operational costs.

Fall Down, Give Up, and Rise Again!

In the beginning of its journey, KSU Sampah Komodo often faced various challenges, one of which was the lack of optimal community support and participation. In addition, the management is still very new, so there is no effective waste management model that can be applied. Once discouraged, Oma Bekti once resigned for some time from the management of KSU Sampah Komodo.

But the continued support and enthusiasm of the volunteers reignited Oma Bekti's spirit to continue her dream. It was this spirit that brought KSU Sampah Komodo together with the WWF Indonesia Foundation. In 2015, WWF Indonesia Foundation together with policy makers in West Manggarai Regency began to provide assistance in the form of capacity building for cooperative members, as well as tools to support the waste management process. KSU Sampah Komodo was given official legality in April 2015 and continues to progress until now.

Till now, Oma Bekti and her colleagues are actively working to reduce plastic waste and prevent environmental pollution in the Labuan Bajo area. Oma Bekti has a strong belief in her journey to build KSU Sampah Komodo, "I believe that KSU Sampah Komodo is one of the ways to take care of nature, in return for what we have received from nature so far."

Women as the wheel of nature conservation

Not only a place for waste management, KSU Sampah Komodo is now a home and safe haven for its volunteers, who are dominated by women. Oma Bekti accepts volunteers from various backgrounds, including people with disabilities, victims of abuse and violence who are often ostracized by society. These women are given education and training that can improve their abilities and skills. "Involving and empowering women in efforts to protect nature is proof that women can take real action and create change," explains Oma Bekti.

The story of Oma Bekti's journey to build and empower women for environmental conservation efforts has a real impact on the changes that can be achieved. In 2014, she became a facilitator in strengthening female DPRD candidates in West Manggarai. In 2018, she was named an Inspirational Mother by KOPERNIK, and represented Indonesia in Dubai in an activity with the theme 'New and Renewable Energy'.

On that occasion, Oma Bekti expressed her concern about the water issues she faced, "At that time I expressed my concern about the availability and access to clean water. I also shared my personal experience of witnessing women who had to wait for hours to bring home clean water."

In addition to being involved in the management of KSU Sampah Komodo, Oma Bekti is also actively involved in other organizations such as: Waste Awareness Cooperative Education, Waste Recycling, and also Rumah Pekerti Organizational Development which also seeks to manage waste into handicrafts.

"Oma Bekti is an inspiring figure. Her daily life shows how persistent she is in fighting for issues of women's empowerment and environmental sustainability. Oma Bekti shows that women have a very important role in environmental conservation efforts," said Khaifin, Site Coordinator for Flores Waters of WWF Indonesia Foundation.

Through Oma Bekti's journey in fighting for nature conservation and women empowerment, we can see a reflection of Kartini. She hopes that there will be more female leaders, as a real proof that women can bring real changes in the society.

"I hope that in the future women can have their own space of freedom without putting aside their duties. I want women to be given space to voice their ideas and opinions in society and be involved in decision-making," Oma Bekti hoped.