Climate Action

UNESA works with NGOs on environmental education

■ INDICATOR 13.3.5

Environmental education collaborate with NGO

Answer

Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA) collaborates on climate adaptation with the Menabung Air Foundation (Yayasan Menabung Air), which a UNESA study programme page describes as a non-government organisation for environmental education and water conservation (S1 Ilmu Komunikasi, 2026) and a news report describes as a non-profit foundation for clean-water conservation (Good News From Indonesia, 2025c): on 17 November 2025 UNESA’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) planted biopori absorption wells with the foundation to reduce flood risk and signed a cooperation agreement with it (Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik, 2025a; Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik, 2025b). A UNESA student placed at the foundation reported on 4 January 2026 on its work with schools, a corporate-funded programme and coordination meetings that included the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (S1 Ilmu Komunikasi, 2026). Sociology students and the foundation also ran biopori sessions on flood prevention at three Surabaya schools between 20 November and 2 December 2025 (Good News From Indonesia, 2025a; Good News From Indonesia, 2025b; Good News From Indonesia, 2025c).

13.3.5.1 Collaboration with an NGO on climate adaptation

Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA) collaborates with the Menabung Air Foundation (Yayasan Menabung Air) on climate adaptation through its Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL). The foundation is a non-government organisation working in environmental education and water conservation (S1 Ilmu Komunikasi, 2026). On Monday 17 November 2025, FISIPOL’s Sociology study programme and the foundation jointly planted biopori absorption wells (Lubang Resapan Biopori) in the FISIPOL PKN Garden. This is a flood-mitigation measure that lets rainwater soak into the ground instead of running off and flooding built-up areas, and the foundation’s public-relations officer described the day as the start of further cooperation with FISIPOL (Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik, 2025b). The same day, FISIPOL and the foundation signed a Memorandum of Agreement that is expected to open opportunities in internships, research and water-conservation projects (Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik, 2025a).

UNESA students also work with the foundation. A UNESA Communication Science student who interned at the foundation reported on 4 January 2026 that the foundation is a non-government organisation working in environmental education and water conservation and that it holds an MoU with FISIPOL (S1 Ilmu Komunikasi, 2026). The student was the person in charge of biopori education and installation in schools within a programme funded by a company’s corporate social responsibility budget, took part in an exhibition with the foundation on 28 November 2025 and attended coordination meetings that included the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (S1 Ilmu Komunikasi, 2026).

At the biopori activity, students dug the infiltration holes and filled them with organic waste to activate them, and learned how returning rainwater to the soil can reduce runoff and support water retention (Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik, 2025b). The activity connected the partnership agreement with practical adaptation education.

The cooperation also reached local schools. As part of the Sociology course on community empowerment models, Sociology students and the foundation, which works on the water crisis and flooding in Indonesia through nature-based solutions, especially biopori technology, introduced biopori practice to 56 pupils, the environmental ambassadors of every class, at SMP Negeri 42 Surabaya on 20 November 2025, with material on preventing floods and waterlogging (Good News From Indonesia, 2025c). They held a further session at SD Pakis Jaya Surabaya on 27 November 2025 (Good News From Indonesia, 2025b) and one for 26 Grade XII pupils at SMA Muhammadiyah 9 Surabaya on 2 December 2025, where the students delivered the foundation’s material on the function, benefits and making of biopori holes (Good News From Indonesia, 2025a). University students facilitated learning, while the NGO contributed its water-conservation programme. These activities focused on skills relevant to managing rainwater and reducing exposure to waterlogging.

A Communication Science report published on 4 January 2026 documents a Communication Science student’s work with the foundation on programme delivery, partnerships and communication, including biopori education in schools. The activities described include November 2025. Her placement illustrates how UNESA students contributed to an NGO’s community adaptation work through programme organisation as well as direct education.

The collaboration therefore combines a formal university-NGO agreement with documented educational activities on campus and in schools. Its climate-adaptation focus is practical water conservation and preparedness for water-related risks.

Figure 13.3.5. Partnership documentation between FISIPOL UNESA and Yayasan Menabung Air on 17 November 2025, supporting student engagement and environmental empowerment. Source: FISIPOL UNESA.

Evidence:

Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik. (2025a, November 17). FISIPOL UNESA dan Yayasan Menabung Air Resmi Jalin Kerja Sama Dukung Pengembangan Mahasiswa melalui Program Magang dan Pemberdayaan Lingkungan [FISIPOL UNESA and the Menabung Air Foundation formally sign a cooperation agreement to support student development through internships and environmental empowerment]. Universitas Negeri Surabaya. https://fisipol.unesa.ac.id/post/fisipol-unesa-dan-yayasan-menabung-air-resmi-jalin-kerja-sama-dukung-pengembangan-mahasiswa-melalui-program-magang-dan-pemberdayaan-lingkungan

Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Politik. (2025b, November 17). Tanam Biopori, Aksi Nyata FISIPOL UNESA dan Yayasan Menabung Air dalam Mengatasi Perubahan Iklim [Planting biopori wells: FISIPOL UNESA and the Menabung Air Foundation take real action to tackle climate change]. Universitas Negeri Surabaya. https://fisipol.unesa.ac.id/post/tanam-biopori-aksi-nyata-fisipol-unesa-dan-yayasan-menabung-air-dalam-mengatasi-perubahan-iklim

Good News From Indonesia. (2025a, December 3). Edukasi Lubang Resapan Biopori di SMA Muhammadiyah 9 Surabaya [Biopori education at SMA Muhammadiyah 9 Surabaya]. Good News From Indonesia. https://www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id/2025/12/03/implementasi-model-pemberdayaan-masyarakat-mahasiswa-sosiologi-unesa-sosialisasikan-manfaat-lubang-resapan-biopori-ke-siswa-sma-muhammadiyah-9-surabaya

Good News From Indonesia. (2025b, December 4). Jaga Bumi lewat Lubang Resapan Biopori oleh Mahasiswa Sosiologi Unesa dan Menabung Air Foundation [Caring for the earth through biopori absorption wells: UNESA Sociology students and the Menabung Air Foundation]. Good News From Indonesia. https://www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id/2025/12/04/menjaga-bumi-lewat-lubang-resapan-biopori-di-sd-pakis-jaya-surabaya-aksi-lingkungan-mahasiswa-sosiologi-unesa-dan-menabung-air-foundation

Good News From Indonesia. (2025c, November 25). Sosialisasi Penanaman Lubang Resapan Biopori di SMP Negeri 42 Surabaya oleh Mahasiswa Sosiologi Unesa dan Yayasan Menabung Air [Biopori planting outreach at SMP Negeri 42 Surabaya by UNESA Sociology students and the Menabung Air Foundation]. Good News From Indonesia. https://www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id/2025/11/25/mahasiswa-sosiologi-unesa-dan-yayasan-menabung-air-sosialisasi-penanaman-biopori-surabaya

S1 Ilmu Komunikasi. (2026, January 4). Kontribusi Mahasiswi UNESA dalam Pengembangan Program CSR Air Bersih di Menabung Air Foundation [A UNESA student's contribution to the clean-water CSR programme at the Menabung Air Foundation]. Universitas Negeri Surabaya. https://ikom.fisipol.unesa.ac.id/post/kontribusi-mahasiswi-unesa-dalam-pengembangan-program-csr-air-bersih-di-menabung-air-foundation

Responsible unit: UNESA assigns the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), through its Sociology study programme, as the unit that runs this collaboration.

UNESA commitment to support SDG 13 achievement is reported at https://sdgscenter.unesa.ac.id/category/Climate-Action