Developing Jakarta is not only the responsibility of the Jakarta Provincial Government, but all stakeholders that are directly involved with the capital, including the community. Therefore, community participation is needed so that Jakarta can be developed optimally. One of the ways to do this is by expressing their aspirations and proposals in developing the city. Thus, urban innovation will not only be optimal, but can also match the needs of the community.

The Development Plan Deliberation (Musrenbang) is one of the forums that can be utilised. Musrenbang itself is an annual agenda for citizens to meet and discuss urban problems experienced and decide short-term development priorities. There are a number of innovations in the capital that were generated from Musrenbang. Of all these innovations, there is a new one that attracts attention, Child-friendly Integrated Public Space (RPTRA) Vlaboean in Klender Sub-district. To know more about its development success story, let’s read the following article. 

Generated from the Residents' Desire

The Vlaboean RPTRA with an area of ​​1,100 m2 is the first and to date, the only one RPTRA,  in Klender Sub-district. Before it was built, Klender Sub-district did not have any RPTRA at all. The RPTRA itself has started to be built in Jakarta since 2015, when the Jakarta Provincial Government began to realise the idea of turning Jakarta into a child-friendly capital city. Klender residents were concerned about this. They would like to have their own RPTRA like other sub-district residents as a place to meet, collaborate, and get creative.

Through the 2019 Musrenbang program, Klender residents then expressed their desire to have green open spaces. Tri Budiyanto, as the head of the sub-district, enthusiastically accepted this idea. Apparently, he also had the same concern. With a large area and 18 Pillars of Citizens (RW), as well as a high population, it is very unfortunate that Klender did not have any RPTRA.

The Musrenbang proposal began to proceed. In coordination with the Head of RW, Mr. Budiyanto began to look for a potential land in Klender. He strolled around Klender almost every morning to look for suitable land. Until one day, he passed an abandoned land near the Klender 14 Pagi State Elementary School (SD). The land was slum and neglected. Several carts were piled on the edge of the land. The chicken coop and the garbage dump are located side by side, not as they should be. At the time, Mr. Budiyanto realised that he already found what he had been looking for. An empty land that can be transformed into a useful space for residents.

From the information he obtained, the land belongs to the Jakarta Provincial Office of Empowerment, Child Protection, and Population Control. The Klender Sub-district then correspondence to the city and provincial government regarding the request for the RPTRA development. In parallel, the team also asked for permission to the owners of carts and vehicles that were often parked on the land for a relocation. Then, Klender Sub-district underwent a series of related meetings at the RW, city, and provincial levels. Knowing that the potential land is located near various elementary schools and can be used as a means of education and creation for children, the proposal for the development of the Klender RPTRA through the Musrenbang was approved at the provincial level. The construction of the RPTRA was also done in collaboration with Wahana Visi Indonesia as a form of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The construction process took place from June 16 to November 2021 and was officially unveiled on December 2, 2021 under the name of RPTRA Vlaboean. To date, after two months from its first opening, RPTRA Vlaboean has become a green space as well as a place for residents to develop their best potential. The residents of Klender enthusiastically welcomed the presence of the green open space they had been waiting for all this time.

Creative Space for Various Activities

Who would have thought that the slum that used to be utilised as a parking lot for vehicles, carts, and garbage dumps could become a green open space? Who would have thought that this land, which was almost never visited by anyone, became a place for various activities in Klender?

If you walk through the Vlaboean RPTRA, you will find the place is neatly arranged. On the front yard, you can see the RPTRA is fenced so that it becomes safer. Entering the RPTRA, you can also see various facilities for residents. Starting from green open spaces that can be used as evacuation sites during floods, children's play areas, sports fields, library, halls as meeting rooms, to lactation rooms as the embodiment of child-friendly concepts. This lactation room is equipped with a sofa for breastfeeding, baby scales, a baby resuscitation table, a refrigerator, and a sink. Various activities are often held, both from internal Klender residents and external parties.

So far, the activity that is consistently held at RPTRA Vlaboean is gymnastics for women and the elderly every Monday and Friday. Before PPKM Level 2, there were actually more activities that were routinely carried out such as monthly religious recitations and RT and RW meetings related to Musrenbang. However, since PPKM Level 2 was implemented, activities at the Vlaboean RPTRA had begun to be reduced and the visitor capacity was limited to 25%. This regulation has now been adjusted to the current PPKM Level 3 regulation. In addition to the internal activities of Klender residents, the Vlaboean RPTRA can also be used for various external activities. Some of the activities that have been carried out are socialisation about fires, workshops from university students related to soap making and digital marketing. Local residents who were involved in the activity said they were very happy because they could gather, socialise, and gain knowledge from outsiders.

The Management of RPTRA Vlaboean Klender

Now we know that Vlaboean RPTRA is clean, neat, functional, and is able to bind Klender residents through various creative activities. But, behind all those things, of course there is capable management done by the managers. There are 6 managers of RPTRA Vlaboean, as suggested by the government. Each manager has their own duties, such as planting fields, and so on. However, every one of them is involved in the cleaning of the outdoor and indoor environment. At least 2 times a day, in the morning and evening, they always clean and tidy up the RPTRA. Apart from that, the managers also cooperate with the Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) members. Cooperation can cover areas such as mutual cooperation activities, early childhood education, land or plants, craft activities, and so on.

The RPTRA management team and Mr. Budiyanto has high hopes for the future. The management team wants to be able to further create every existing facility to make it more attractive and child-friendly. So that later, the Vlaboean RPTRA can become a centre for informal education, such as sports activities or plants-learning for children who attend elementary schools near the RPTRA. Meanwhile, the management team also strives to maintain good relations and communication with the teachers and principals from these schools. Supporting the managers’ arguments, Mr. Budiyanto hopes that the Vlaboean RPTRA can accommodate children and youth in Klender Sub-district to be more creative and independent through educational activities. Various training such as welding and computers are also part of the upcoming collaboration agenda for RPTRA Vlaboean.

Convey Your Aspiration, Develop Jakarta Through Musrenbang

As an innovation that generated from the residents’ aspirations through the Musrenbang, the RPTRA Vlaboean has been a successful example. It is able to facilitate residents with activities that support their creativity and skills as well as function ecologically. This RPTRA is just one of many ideas that have been successfully implemented through the Musrenbang. You can also overcome the urban issues that you care about around your neighbourhood by voicing your aspirations regarding regional program planning at the Musrenbang. Musrenbang is currently being held in Jakarta. If you feel like submitting your idea is complicated, no worries. You can submit it online through the DKI Jakarta Musrenbang website. So, what are you waiting for? Submit your suggestions and make a small change for a big impact in Jakarta!