Pelindo introduces maritime world and environmental care to children
PT Pelindo Marine Service (Pelindo Marine) introduced the maritime world and the importance of keeping the environment clean to children in RW 09, Tanah Kali Kedinding Urban Village, Kenjeran District, Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday, through the Mariners Mengajar programme.
The activity, themed “Kenjeran Wani Resik”, invited children to understand the importance of protecting the environment from an early age, while also introducing the maritime world through colouring comics with a tugboat theme.
“Through the Mariners Mengajar programme, we want to share knowledge while instilling positive values in children from an early age,” said Pelindo Marine Service Director of Finance, Human Resources, and Risk Management Lia Indi Agustiana in Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday.
Lia said the Mariners Mengajar programme is part of the company’s contribution to supporting character education, environmental awareness, and maritime literacy for the younger generation.
According to her, introducing the maritime world from an early age is important considering Indonesia is an archipelagic country with a maritime sector that plays a significant role in people’s lives.
In addition to providing education about the environment, the children were also invited to be creative through tugboat comic colouring activities.
The activity served as a means for participants to learn about one type of vessel that operates in supporting port activities.
Head of RW 09, Tanah Kali Kedinding Urban Village, Yoyok Soehendro, appreciated the activity because education about environmental cleanliness is considered relevant to the condition of the area, which is located around the banks of the Kali Kedinding River.
“Tanah Kali Kedinding Urban Village is located in an area adjacent to the banks of the Kali Kedinding River. Therefore, education about cleanliness and environmental awareness is very important for the community,” said Yoyok.
He said the Mariners Mengajar activity also continues a number of previous Pelindo Marine programmes, including Kenjeran Wani Geni through firefighting training and Kenjeran Wani Resik through assistance with wastewater treatment plant installations.
Meanwhile, Pelindo Marine’s Organising Committee for the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence, Ery Ferriati, said the momentum of the independence anniversary can be used to build positive habits in the community, including among children.
“The spirit of independence can be realised through simple actions, one of which is getting into the habit of disposing of rubbish in its proper place and keeping the surrounding environment clean,” she said.
Enthusiasm for the activity was also shown by the participants.
Rizky, a third-grade primary school student, admitted she was happy to take part in the activity because, in addition to colouring, she gained new knowledge about tugboats.
“I am happy to be able to take part in this activity. Besides colouring pictures of ships, I now know that tugboats have many functions to help other ships at the port,” she said.