Related to SDGs
Students from the Community Service Program (KKN) GIAT 16 at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) organized an innovative household waste management workshop at the Kalitengah Village Hall, Purwanegara District, Banjarnegara Regency, on Monday, July 27, 2026. The activity was attended by 40 members of the Kalitengah Village PKK Mobilization Team, who enthusiastically learned how to transform used cooking oil into marketable aromatherapy candles. Program leader Hasna Anindya Putri explained that the training was designed to raise environmental awareness while creating new business opportunities in the creative economy sector. Through interactive education and hands-on practice, participants were taught how to purify used cooking oil using activated charcoal for 24 hours to neutralize odors, before heating and blending it with paraffin wax and essential oils.
This community empowerment initiative received warm appreciation from the village government and local leaders. Sarmini, Head of the Kalitengah Village PKK Mobilization Team, expressed her gratitude for the students’ dedication to providing a practical solution to daily kitchen waste. “We deeply appreciate this training activity as it provides fresh insights for PKK members. Until now, used cooking oil has mostly been underutilized household waste, yet it turns out it can be crafted into attractive aromatherapy candles with economic value. We hope the knowledge shared can be applied at home and even developed into a business opportunity,” Sarmini remarked during the event. Supported by the KKN Development Center under UNNES LPPM and the Kalitengah Village Government, this program embodies the spirit of their flagship tagline, “Bersama UNNES GIAT, Membangun Indonesia dari Desa”.
The concrete action taken by UNNES KKN GIAT 16 directly supports the achievement of three key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). First, it reinforces Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) through the effective recycling of household waste oil to prevent environmental contamination. Second, the training promotes Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) by equipping residents with creative economy skills that hold potential for home-based enterprises. Finally, the success of this initiative highlights Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), demonstrated by the strong synergy between UNNES academics, the Kalitengah Village Government, and the PKK team for local community welfare.
