Marine Debris Warrior (Gajahlah Kebersihan)

Dicky founded Marine Debris Warrior (Gajahlah Kebersihan), a non-profit organisation empowering coastal communities in Indonesia by cleaning the coastline, creating job opportunities and a circular economy, and offering educational programmes. It provides four solutions: evidence-based research, education, ecopreneurship and eco-edutourism. Marine Debris Warrior launched SEA Mama, a social enterprise led by coastal mothers who recycle plastic waste into crafts and sell them. Its Eco Roster is a ventilation brick made from recycled plastic, with the organisation collecting around 400 kg of waste daily six days a week. Marine Debris Warrior provides eco-edutourism activities to people interested in a combination of educational and recreational activities, including waste management in coastal community houses and nature tours.

Dicky attended the One Young World Summit in Manchester, 2022. He was able to discuss collaboration between government and social initiatives with Jonathan Dewsbury, Director of Capital Operations and Net Zero at the UK Department of Education. This encouraged him to work in partnership with governmental bodies to broaden his impact, and Marine Debris Warrior will provide expertise in managing recycling facilities to the government in 2024.

Marine Debris Warrior has educated 30,100 people in climate education through workshops, youth summits, and door-to-door activities. It has provided small grants of five million Indonesian rupiah to 18 groups of children working on eco-innovation. The SEA Mama initiative has empowered 20 coastal mothers economically, while the organisation has collected and recycled 130 tonnes of waste, including 2.3 tonnes of marine debris. Marine Debris Warrior has also educated 1,000 tourists.

“The biggest impact of One Young World for me has been the platform it represents. It has given me a wonderful network with social activists, working on environmental and other issues. It gives me courage and motivation to do so much more.”