Implement EcoArt Village Empowerment Program to Promote Sustainable Creative Economy in Marabahan Baru
Implement EcoArt Village Empowerment Program to Promote Sustainable Creative Economy in Marabahan Baru
Barito Kuala, December 19, 2025 — Students from the Social Science Education Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM), in collaboration with students from the Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, and the Government Science Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, successfully carried out the ULM Impactful Village Development Program (Bina Desa Berdampak ULM 2025) in Marabahan Baru Village, Barito Kuala Regency.
The community service activity, held on Friday (19/12) from 09:00 to 12:30 WITA at the residence yard of the Village Head of Marabahan Baru, adopted the theme “EcoArt Marabahan Baru (Empowering Community through Organic Art Training)”. The program focused on strengthening community creativity and improving the local economy through environmentally friendly ecoprint tote bag training.
The activity was attended by lecturers from the Social Science Education Department, the village development committee, and approximately 40 participants consisting of the Village Head, PKK women’s group members, and local residents. Participants showed high enthusiasm throughout the program, especially during the hands-on ecoprint training, which aimed to enhance creative skills while fostering environmental awareness.
The ecoprint tote bag training was strategically chosen to support the development of sustainable tourism in Marabahan Baru Village, which serves as a buffer zone for Pulau Curiak, a conservation area for proboscis monkeys (bekantan). Utilizing local natural materials such as leaves and flowers as organic dyes, the training promoted environmentally friendly production methods that reduce chemical usage and waste. The resulting ecoprint products not only possess aesthetic value but also hold strong economic potential as local souvenirs that can increase community income.
The program officially began with the singing of the Indonesian national anthem, followed by opening remarks from the Field Supervising Lecturer, Sovia Husni Rahmia, S.Pd., M.Pd. In her address, she emphasized that the Bina Desa ULM Berdampak 2025 program aims to empower village communities—particularly women—by enhancing creative skills through eco-friendly handicrafts that support sustainable village-based economic development.
Following an ice-breaking session to build participant engagement, the first material session was delivered by Sovia Husni Rahmia, S.Pd., M.Pd., focusing on Environmentally Friendly Souvenirs for Sustainable Tourism Development in Marabahan Baru Village. The session highlighted the importance of balancing environmental preservation, socio-cultural values, and economic growth, considering the village’s strategic role in supporting wildlife conservation.
The second session was presented by Saidatunnisa, a member of the village development committee, who explained the technical process of creating ecoprint tote bags. This session emphasized how organic art techniques can serve as practical implementations of sustainable tourism while empowering the community through creative industries.
Participants then engaged in hands-on ecoprint practice in small groups. Guided by the organizing team, participants arranged leaves and flowers on tote bags, applied protective layers, and used simple pounding techniques to transfer natural pigments onto fabric. Each group produced unique ecoprint patterns, showcasing both creativity and environmental responsibility.
In addition to production techniques, participants received supplementary material on packaging design and marketing strategies to enhance the commercial value of their products. The activity also included an interactive pre-test session with prizes, designed to evaluate participants’ understanding of the materials delivered.
The EcoArt Marabahan Baru program concluded with a closing prayer and group photo session, symbolizing collaboration and shared commitment to sustainable village development. This initiative is expected to provide long-term benefits by encouraging creative economic activities, increasing environmental awareness, and supporting Marabahan Baru Village’s vision as a sustainable tourism destination rooted in local wisdom and ecological responsibility.
