Radea Respati Paramudhita Supports Cross-Sector Collaboration for Inmate Empowerment
Bandung City Council Commission I Chair Radea Respati Paramudhita has emphasised the importance of collaboration between universities, local government, correctional institutions, businesses and communities for inmate empowerment programmes. Cross-sector collaboration is needed so that programmes do not stop at training activities but can be sustainable and provide long-term benefits for inmates.
“The most important thing is sustainability,” said Radea, who attended the Community Service Programme (PKM) of the Widyatama University Faculty of Economics and Business Knowledge Branch Group themed “Ecopreneurship Based on Household Plastic Waste Recycling as an Effort for Economic Empowerment of Inmates” at the Bandung Class IIA Women’s Prison on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
According to her, after training is provided and products are produced, there must be further mentoring, including how the products are developed, promoted and gain market access. Therefore, synergy with the Bandung City Government is also important, particularly in opening marketing opportunities for products made by inmates.
Radea also appreciated the PKM activity chaired by Rima Rahmayanti, with members Shinta Oktafien, Pipin Sukandi, Imanirrahma Salsabil, Nina Nurani, Darwis Agustriyana, Dwinto Martri Aji Buana, Indra Taruna Anggapradja, Nabila Tri Hapsari Najwar and Isra Detia Haloho. Representatives of the Bandung City Government attended the activity, including from the Council Secretariat, the Environmental Agency, the Trade and Industry Agency, and local sub-district elements.
According to her, the presence of representatives from the Environmental Agency and the Trade and Industry Agency at the activity was seen as a positive signal for the programme’s sustainability, given that both agencies have strategic roles in waste management and opening market access for MSME products.
Local government, she continued, can act as a facilitator by connecting these products with various marketing channels, MSME players and available promotional spaces.
Meanwhile, regarding the programme held, Radea said it was a concrete step in improving the skills, creativity and economic independence of inmates, particularly women, through the use of household plastic waste into products with useful and economic value.
The ecopreneurship concept has dual benefits. First, it helps reduce waste generation, particularly household plastic waste. Second, it opens economic opportunities through creativity and skills in processing waste into products with selling value.
Radea assessed that the approach is in line with community empowerment efforts that are not only oriented towards solving environmental problems but are also able to create business opportunities and increase economic independence.
She hopes that the ecopreneurship-based empowerment model can continue to be developed as one approach in building inmate independence, while supporting efforts to reduce waste and strengthen the community economy.
Inmate empowerment is not sufficient if carried out only through providing technical skills. An ecosystem is needed that can connect the training process, product development and marketing, so that inmates’ work can provide real economic benefits.
“We certainly greatly appreciate this activity. What is provided is not only knowledge and skills, but how inmates can see that something that has been considered waste can actually be processed into products with economic value,” she said.
Radea said the success of inmate empowerment programmes is not solely measured by the number of products produced. More than that, success is also seen from improved skills, growing self-confidence and inmates’ readiness to live more independent lives.
She also hopes that the community service activities carried out by Widyatama University can become the beginning of broader and sustainable collaboration. According to her, universities have a strategic role in transforming knowledge, creativity and innovation into real solutions that benefit society.
“Collaborative activities like this must not stop here and can continue to be synchronised with Bandung City Government programmes, as well as developed in various regions, so that the knowledge possessed by lecturers and universities truly provides real benefits for society,” said Radea.