Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Nayla Phui Amazona, a 2023 Accounting student, won 1st place in the National Essay Education Fair 2024 organized by the Education Study Circle (LSP) of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education - Universitas Sebelas Maret (FKIP UNS) on September 21, 2024. The competition saw hundreds of participants from various universities across Indonesia. To reach the finals, Phui outperformed 92 teams from top universities in Indonesia, including the Universitas Indonesia, ITB, and IPB.

Phui successfully won first prize for her idea of using the Daur Apps application for textile waste management. In the competition, she addressed the theme of green economy, focusing on environmentally friendly products that can be recycled through the Daur Apps application.

"I proposed a case for managing unused textile waste. Through the Daur Apps application, users can contribute to preserving the environment while receiving incentives. In this way, it is hoped that more people will engage in recycling practices that positively impact sustainability," she explained on Thursday (September 26).

The process proposed by the Daur Apps application is quite simple and intuitive. Users need to take a photo of the unwanted clothing and click the "process" button in the app. After that, users will receive incentives as compensation for each item of clothing they return. By providing these incentives, it is hoped that users will be more motivated to participate in the recycling program, which is designed to reduce textile waste.

In addition, the Daur Apps application also provides a platform for selling pre-processed recycled items. This app serves not only as a waste management tool but also as a marketplace for eco-friendly products.

"This initiative is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 12 on responsible consumption and production, which emphasizes the importance of sustainable resource and waste management for a better future," Phui said.

Phui admitted that she faced several challenges during the competition. She was previously ranked 6th on the waiting list for the competition. "I got the chance to go to the finals because one of the teams withdrew," she said.

Despite making it to the finals, Phui was not overjoyed because the evaluation in this competition was 40% based on the essay and 60% based on the presentation in the final stage. The review made Phui feel somewhat pessimistic because she only received 87 points for her essay, while the first-place contestant received an average of 91 points. In addition, Phui was the only member of her team, while others had two members. However, this did not discourage Phui; she continued to work hard and prepare to do her best.

In the end, all her efforts paid off. Phui was happy and grateful to be selected as the 1st place winner. She hopes this accomplishment will motivate herself and others to try new things and keep learning even after experiencing failure. This young woman wants to show that every failure is a valuable lesson that helps you grow. In this spirit, Phui is committed to continuing her personal development and expanding her knowledge. "I hope this success will be the beginning of many more achievements in the future," she concluded.

Reportage: Orie Priscylla Mapeda Lumalan
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum 

Sustainable Development Goals