Kalipucang Village, Grabag (August 4, 2024) – Indah Megaria, a student from Universitas Diponegoro’s KKN (Community Service Program) Team II for 2023/2024, successfully transformed waste cooking oil into aromatherapy candles. This initiative was part of a mono-disciplinary work program aimed at empowering the community through training and demonstrations on recycling used cooking oil into aromatherapy candles, conducted with members of the women’s empowerment group (TP PKK) in Kalipucang Village, Grabag Subdistrict, Magelang Regency.
Cooking oil is a basic necessity widely used in households. However, cooking oil reused multiple times turns into waste oil, known as minyak jelantah, a common household waste product. Improper disposal of this waste oil often leads to environmental pollution, affecting soil, water, and more.
Recognizing this issue, Indah Megaria took the initiative to repurpose waste oil into a valuable and beneficial product—aromatherapy candles. These are special candles made using essential oils with soothing and pleasant fragrances. This innovation not only helps reduce and prevent environmental pollution but also holds promising economic potential, offering local residents an entrepreneurial opportunity.
Leaflets distributed to TP PKK members of Kalipucang Village (Personal Documentation)
Leaflets distributed to TP PKK members of Kalipucang Village (Personal Documentation)
The activity began with an educational session explaining the hazards of reusing waste oil repeatedly. Leaflets containing relevant information were distributed to the TP PKK members, followed by a live demonstration of how to recycle waste oil into aromatherapy candles. The demonstration aimed to enable the women to replicate the process at home and teach others in the community, increasing the utilization of waste oil before disposal.
The event was warmly received, with the TP PKK members participating enthusiastically and enjoying the hands-on learning experience. They expressed their hopes to apply the newly acquired skills and knowledge shared by the Universitas Diponegoro KKN Team II students.
Writer:
Indah Megaria, Public Administration Student, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro
KKN Location:
Kalipucang Village, Grabag Subdistrict, Magelang Regency
Field Supervisor:
Adi Dinardinata, S.Psi, M.Psi.
