We often warn about trends on TikTok as joining them can be dangerous. Fortunately, sometimes we may come upon an initiative that makes the world a better place. This is one of them.

The Pandawara group has amassed over 9 million followers on TikTok and Instagram. It was founded in 2022 by five 21-year-olds from the city of Bandung, Indonesia, after flooding caused by rivers clogged with rubbish severely damaged their homes.

Being scattered on thousands of islands Indonesia has a serious waste management problem. It is estimated that as much as 36% of the country's rubbish does not end up in landfills, which more than often are overcrowded. Much of the waste therefore ends up in rivers, where it damages ecosystems and creates flood risks.

Rafli Pasya, Agung Permana, Gilang Rahma, Muchamad Iksan and Rifki Sa'dullah took matters into their own hands and, equipped with just wellingtons and rubber gloves, began systematically clearing the rivers of garbage in their neighbourhood.

Their activism has made waves on social media and today, just a year after founding Pandawara, they are full-time online celebrities and activists. They are not resting on their laurels, however, as they are mobilising more and more young people to join their efforts. On 10 July, at least 3,000 people took part in a beach clean-up in Lampung, Sumatra and managed to clean 300 tons of waste in one day.

The videos of Pandawara's actions not only raise awareness of environmental issues in Indonesia, but also foster a sense of local community. They show how much can really change when people unite around a worthwhile cause. The group has also managed to bring local and national authorities out of their slumber on the subject of waste, with officials and the military now taking part in clean-ups initiated by the group.

The young people point out that volunteering alone will not solve the problem of inefficient waste management. "Some people know littering is wrong, but there is no waste facility in their village, nor do they have the tools to transport the waste, so they are left with no other options," stressed one of the volunteers working with Pandawara in a statement for The Guardian.

West Java government official Prima Mayaningtyas acknowledged that waste management needs to improve in the region. She assured that the government plans to complete the construction of power plants that convert rubbish into energy by 2030.

Source: The Guardian