Over the past six months a stakeholder workshop took place, which aimed at engaging local communities around the planning of the Tandon Puri Tigaraksa. It is one of the most significant activities in the YEP Programme, in collaboration with the Blue Deal Tangerang project.
‘Tandon’ in Bahasa means reservoir. It is currently being developed in two phases. The first phase focuses on constructing the flood prevention reservoir to help manage excess rainwater and mitigate flood risks. Once this stage is completed, the second phase involves designing the surrounding area to serve as a green open space with recreational facilities for the local community.
Recognising the importance of community participation, they actively engaged local residents to determine the best ways to utilise the space to meet their needs. This inclusive approach ensures direct benefits to the community from the project. In addition, it fosters a sense of shared responsibility. Residents are actively involved in the planning process to encourage long-term maintenance efforts, and the reservoir remains clean and well-preserved. To facilitate this engagement, a workshop was held at the reservoir site. The community was able to share their ideas through this hands-on opportunity.
Workshop process and community participation
The goal of the workshop was to gather insights from the community regarding their expectations for the reservoir area. A total of 15 participants from the local community attended. The discussions proved highly productive and it generated important input to shape the next phase of the project.
The participants were divided into small groups. They focused on three key questions:
- What is needed to bring this plan to life? – Identifying essential infrastructure, facilities, or resources required to successfully develop the area.
- How can it be maintained? – Exploring strategies to ensure the space remains clean, functional and sustainable over time.
- How can the community take responsibility for maintenance? – Encouraging residents to take an active role in maintaining the space through community initiatives, local regulations, or organized efforts.
These discussions provided a platform for community members to have their thoughts and concerns heard. Also, it fostered a sense of ownership over the project’s future.
The role and contributions of Yepper Adithyar Rachman
Adithyar played a key role in facilitating communication between various stakeholders, including representatives from the Blue Deal Team Tangerang, local village leaders, and community members. Furthermore, government officials from the Planning Agency, the Public Works and Water Resources Agency, and the Head of Tigaraksa District were present. The role of Yepper Adithyar was to assure that the community’s feedback was effectively integrated into the planning.
Adithyar shares: “My participation in the Young Expert Programme was instrumental in this process. The skills and experience I gained, particularly in stakeholder engagement and effective communication, helped me navigate the complexities of balancing technical feasibility with community interests. YEP strengthened my abilities in active listening, summarizing and digging deeper (LSD) in the discussions. All of which were crucial in making the workshop a success.”
By involving the community early in the process, it was ensured that the reservoir serves as a flood mitigation measure. Futhermore, it becomes a shared space that residents take pride in and actively maintain. Therefore, this collaborative effort strengthens community ownership and lays the foundation for sustainable water management in the region.