The Raja Ampat Regency Government released 22 students from the Universitas Gajah Mada Students Community Services (KKN UGM) at the Wayag Hall on Saturday, February 7, 2026. These 22 UGM students had carried out a 47-day community service program in the Waisai District.
Student coordinator Andhika Bayu Darmawan said that the theme of the community service program was “Sustainable Management-Based Ecotourism Management for Optimizing Maritime Potential and Food Security in Waisai District, Raja Ampat Regency.” During their service in Waisai Kota District, there were 129 work programs that supported sustainable development goals, particularly SDGs 3 Good Health and Well-Being, SDGs 4 Quality Education, SDGs 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, SDGs 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDGs 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. These work programs were carried out across four sub-districts.
The students’ activities included developing a coastal ecotourism information system through a smart tourism approach to support sustainable tourism management; optimizing the blue economy through community-based development; strengthening food security by optimizing the potential for diversification of local marine resources by maximizing maritime products; an integrated one health approach for human, animal, and environmental health; and strengthening social resilience and community through participation and local cultural wisdom.
According to Andhika, a number of activities that have been carried out include updating information on Google Maps to facilitate tourists, installing solar street lights in the 300 area, making compost from household waste, and planting 100 mangrove seedlings in the Swainbon area.
The implementation of KKN, said Andhika, was a very meaningful experience and learning opportunity, not only as students, but also as part of the coastal community. Through the implementation of
a program based on sustainable ecotourism management, his team learned to build community trust, starting with a sincere, participatory presence that respects local wisdom.
“Waisai, as the gateway to Raja Ampat, shows great potential in the coastal ecotourism sector, which requires further smart tourism-based management so that it can be managed in a sustainable and inclusive manner,” he said.
Also present at the student send-off were Acting Assistant for Government Affairs at the Raja Ampat Regional Secretariat Nur Albi Basyir Umkabu, KKN supervisor Djaka Marwasta, and Waisai District Secretary Anwar Kapitan Laut. During the event, student representatives presented reports on various programs and activities carried out during the community service program.