Student testimonials from the Living Lab on Renewable Energy and Climate Change Mitigation with case owner Kampung Kollektief
(Oct 2024 - May 2025)
Alfiana Salsabila - Universitas Airlangga (Sustainable Urban Connections team)
“Collaborating with the students from the Netherlands has been truly enriching. Their innovation complements our local insights, creating a strong, goal-driven partnership. What stands out most is the seamless communication and positive interaction, making the project both enjoyable”
Merise van den Berg - Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Sustainable Urban Connections team)
“ By visiting the case study location, Kampung Susun Kunir in Jakarta, it has become much clearer how a kampung works and how the community interacts with each other. Additionally, by visiting the kampung we gained a better picture of what is important to the residents”
Canario Octonian Desetio - Universitas Airlangga (Waste Management and Circular Practices)
“This project enhanced my understanding of sustainable waste management practices and the principles of a circular economy. Visiting facilities such as Waste4Change and Taman Kompos gave me a real-world application of environmental engineering concepts, bridging the gap between theory and practice”
Salsabila Rakhfi Khoirunnisa - Universitas Indonesia (Experience Design for Sustainable Tourism)
"What I enjoyed was the opportunity to collaborate with incredibly warm and welcoming kampung residents, who were truly open to co-creating something meaningful. For example, we designed a workshop that may be continued independently by the community. It was important for us that the event felt rooted in their rhythm and values. Through this project, I also learned how designing an “experience” goes beyond aesthetics. It's also about building trust, adapting communication, and creating space for mutual learning”
Aragsan Omer Ige – The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Waste Management and Circular Practices)
“What started as a study project turned into a valuable journey for me, one that truly deepened my perspective on sustainability, collaboration, and societal change.
Working with a diverse group of stakeholders – from NGOs to residents, researchers, students, and even the Dutch embassy in Indonesia – provided our team with the full picture. Every conversation, every encounter brought us a step closer to understanding both the complexity and the potential of the project. At times, it felt like a Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in action: from basic needs like living conditions and health to self-development and meaning. For example:
- During the interview with Bu Indri, we got a glimpse into the daily challenges faced by residents of Kampung Susun Kunir.
- The excursion with a geologist helped us understand the ground beneath the city
- At Waste4Change, LabTanya, and Enviu, we saw innovative solutions and social entrepreneurship in practice
- The visits to the Dutch Embassy in Indonesia, Bantar Gebang, Airlangga University, and RW16 brought everything together: policy, practice, knowledge, and experience
Eventually one of the key recommendations we developed was the creation of a Green Skill Hub – a place where residents can not only gain knowledge about sustainability, waste separation, and recycling but also learn practical skills that contribute to their future. We wanted to spark something, to start a conversation with the residents. Through interviews, we really tried to listen, understand, and build connections for a sustainable future that is collectively supported”.
For questions about the Living Lab please contact Lotte Troost at ctroost@nuffic.nl