Ms. Shinta Adelia Sukma (Adel) from Indonesia’s Youth Sanitation Concern (YSC), the grand prize winner of the 7th Kyoto World Water Grand Prize, visited Japan to participate in the JENESYS ASEAN-Japan Student Conference, Programme for young people in the ASEAN region.
On Monday, January 20th, during a break in the program, a meeting was held between Ms. Adel and the Japan Water Forum regarding the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize.
During the meeting, Ms. Adel explained the activities of YSC after receiving the award and the reactions of those around them as the following 4 contents, and repeatedly expressed her gratitude for this honor.
① Establishment of YSC as a Foundation
By utilizing the financial support from the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize, YSC successfully transitioned into Sagara Cita Indonesia Foundation (YSC Indonesia). This formal establishment significantly enhanced its credibility, allowing the organization to expand partnerships, attract funding, and implement large-scale sanitation and climate resilience programs.
② Enhancement of Existing Facilities etc.
Along with continuing its activities, YSC has now implemented the following four activities.
- Improved maintenance of public toilets, where community-based organizations (CBOs) managing sanitation facilities increased their budget allocation. Households in the community collectively agreed to raise the maintenance fee from IDR 3,000 to IDR 5,000 per month, ensuring sustainability.
- 1Installation of a new water pump, funded through the contributions of 15 households, improving water access for sanitation facilities.
- Scheduled desludging, conducted in December 2024, following previous cycles in 2020 and 2022.
- Research on sanitation effectiveness in coastal areas, which will serve as a baseline for future infrastructure development and adaptation strategies.
③ Collaboration with Japanese Organizations
Winning the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize also opened opportunities for YSC to engage with leading Japanese institutions:
- SATO project with LIXIL, A pilot project was launched in Bandar Lampung, focusing on climate-resilient and water-saving toilets. (SATO’s technology aims to reduce water consumption in coastal communities, where households typically spend up to IDR 300,000 per month on clean water.)
The public toilets equipped with SATO technology were completed by January 16, 2025, and the facility continued to function normally during the major flooding that occurred the day after (14,000 residents were affected in Bandar Lampung), reaffirming the importance of disaster-adaptable toilets. - NEWJEC Inc. & IDE-JETRO: Initial discussions have taken place regarding potential collaboration in sanitation innovation, research, and climate adaptation. Details on joint initiatives are still under development.
④ Media Recognition & Public Engagement
The impact of YSC’s work has attracted both national and international media coverage:
- DW Germany has published an interview with community members in Kampung Gudang Agen who successfully operated public toilets and YSC representative Iffah Rachmi about the sanitation program she is running in the coastal area. This is an introduction to the programs that both are implementing in their coastal communities.https://www.dw.com/en/indonesia-improving-sanitation-in-coastal-areas/video-71187475
- Kompas Indonesia covered YSC’s “Music Riverside” initiative, a creative campaign that raised awareness about sanitation through art, music, and public engagement.
YSC’s latest business report can be found here.
https://www.waterforum.jp/pdf/gr/kyoto-prize/YSC-Indonesia-Updates-2024.pdf
About the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize
https://www.waterforum.jp/en/what-we-do/kyoto-prize/
（Reported by Yuta Tsunemune）
