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Fardan Naufal Tamam (Water Resources Engineering and Management 2023), the leader of Group 9, explained that the madrasah initially had no toilets or ablution facilities. “Students had to rely on residents’ homes or even the fishpond for their toilet needs, while performing ablution was always a challenge,” he said. Recognizing the urgency, the students used a former cattle shed provided by the community as the site for the new sanitation facilities.

With around 50 students attending daily, two toilet cubicles and one ablution area with four water taps were built. The wastewater system applied a blackwater management concept, using a three-chamber septic tank: the first chamber for decomposition with the help of EM4 microorganisms, the second for filtration, and the third for water storage before infiltration into the soil through a soak pit. This design prevents the community from having to periodically pump out the septic tank.

Meanwhile, greywater management was implemented to channel wastewater from ablution activities to the mosque’s drainage system and the madrasah’s pond. The project was made possible through close collaboration with the local community. Due to budget limitations, construction labor costs were covered by residents, with many parents of the madrasah students also assisting in excavation, foundation work, and providing meals for the volunteers.

A similar issue was found at the village mosque, which also lacked toilets and ablution facilities. Worshippers had to maintain their ablution from home before attending congregational prayers. To address this, the students and community transformed an unused room in the mosque into a sanitation facility.

Unlike the madrasah, which required construction from scratch, the mosque project was more of a revitalization effort. One toilet cubicle with a three-chamber septic tank and an ablution area with four taps were completed. This project was fully community-driven, supported by a local mason who had also worked on the madrasah construction. Today, the mosque, which serves 5-15 people daily and up to 30 during special events, can better accommodate worshippers’ needs.

Beyond sanitation, Group 9 also organized several non-thematic activities. These included teaching Qur’an recitation, Islamic studies, and basic science at the madrasah; creative activities such as coloring and playing the angklung at the local PAUD (early childhood education center); and assisting in preparations for Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations.

The students also created animal-themed props for traditional games using local materials, conducted awareness sessions on MCK maintenance, and hosted a farewell community gathering featuring performances from both madrasah students and ITB students.

The project received strong support from the community. Around 20 households directly benefited from the new facilities. Both parents and mosque congregants reported significant improvements, noting that children could now study and pray with greater focus while the community gained a stronger awareness of sanitation.

The construction process was not without challenges, especially unpredictable weather that at times washed away building materials. However, this became an important learning experience for the students. “The field is very dynamic, so we must be adaptive in carrying out our work and learn to make quick and precise decisions,” Fardan reflected.

Looking ahead, the students hope that the community will continue to maintain the facilities for long-term use. “We hope this project will truly benefit the people here, enabling more comfortable worship, more focused learning, and greater awareness of the importance of sanitation,” Fardan concluded.

Reporter: Chysara Rabani (Mining Engineering, 2025)