On April 19, 2025, the ZeroWaste Center held its second Bazaar of the year in Sawangan. This event was dedicated to members of the local community who have consistently participated in the Waste Management for Local Community program—an initiative aimed at training and educating households on how to properly sort their waste. The sorted waste is then collected by the ZeroWaste Center, and participants receive coupons as an incentive for each kilogram of properly sorted waste they contribute. During the Bazaar, participants had the opportunity to exchange these coupons for essential goods such as groceries, cooking ingredients, stationery, and clothing. This event served as a valuable lesson for the community, reinforcing the idea that waste still holds significant value and can be transformed into items that meet their daily needs. The Bazaar successfully distributed approximately 3,000 coupons and attracted more than 50 participants who came to redeem them.
The Bazaar has always been a highly anticipated event for the local community, as it provides the opportunity to redeem the coupons they have diligently collected over the past three months for goods that are useful in their daily lives. The enthusiasm of the participants was evident in their early arrival, well before the official start of the event. Upon arrival, participants registered their personal information and confirmed the number of coupons they were ready to exchange. They were then gathered at the Amphitheater for a short educational session on waste management, including a call to encourage others in the community to join the program. Following the briefing, attendees were invited to shop in accordance with the established guidelines. During the event, the use of plastic shopping bags was strictly prohibited. Instead, participants were encouraged to bring reusable bags made from organic materials. This policy aimed to further educate the community on reducing single-use plastic consumption.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the event was hearing the responses from several community members whom we interviewed after they completed their shopping. Many expressed deep gratitude for the Bazaar, viewing it as an indirect form of assistance that allows them to obtain basic necessities simply by exchanging their household waste at the Center. There was a strong hope among participants that the Bazaar would continue to be held regularly, as it significantly helps reduce the financial burden of purchasing daily essentials. They also reaffirmed their commitment to environmental preservation by consistently sorting their household waste and delivering it to the ZeroWaste Center for proper management. The event attracted not only housewives, but also teenagers and children, who enthusiastically exchanged their coupons for clothing and school supplies. For many of the mothers, staple food items such as rice, eggs, and vegetables were naturally their top priority. Seeing the joyful smiles on the faces of the participants at each Bazaar is more than enough to affirm that this initiative is having a positive and tangible impact on the local community of Sawangan Village.
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You can support the quarterly ZeroWaste Bazaar by donating products or cash, reach out to our marketing team via email at marketing@rolefoundation.org, or by WhatsApp by clicking here!
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