Margoagung Village, known as a cultural pioneer village, continues to maintain the tradition of bamboo crafts that have been passed down from generation to generation. However, in this modern era, innovation is needed to ensure its sustainability and increase competitiveness. Responding to these challenges, the PPK Team of Ormawa Haska JMF FMIPA UNY came up with the Bamboo Craft Diversification and Digital Marketing Program to help the craftsmen in this village not only maintain, but also develop their bamboo crafts.
The program involved a team of students from various departments at FMIPA UNY, including Chemistry Education, Physics, Mathematics, and Statistics, who worked with the local artisan group to introduce new techniques in bamboo craft making. The program includes four workshops that train villagers in weaving skills, product design, and raw material selection and preservation. To date, three of the four workshops have been successfully implemented, involving Margoagung Village PKK women as the main participants.
One of the local residents, Marzuni, revealed that bamboo crafts have high artistic and economic value. “This bamboo craft is not only a source of livelihood, but also a cultural heritage that must be preserved. The biggest challenge is regeneration, as the younger generation still lacks interest,” he explained.
With a Learning by Doing approach, the program provides practical training through small groups. Participants not only learn the theory, but also directly practice making wickerwork and small fruit baskets. Each participant is allowed to take home their work as an appreciation, which is also expected to motivate them to continue being creative.
In addition to technical skills, the program also incorporates digital marketing aspects in its training. The artisans were taught how to effectively promote their products through e-commerce and social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and the official “Bambu Kreasi Margoagung” website. They learned to create attractive visual content, write informative product descriptions, and maximize social media as a promotional tool.
The program has been ongoing since late July to mid-August with six meetings, and will further focus on digital marketing. The hope is that the bamboo handicraft products of Margoagung Village can penetrate a wider market, so as to increase the income of the local community and preserve this traditional craft.
By combining tradition and innovation, the program initiated by the PPK Team of Ormawa Haska JMF FMIPA UNY is a real step in preserving local cultural heritage while helping bamboo craftsmen in Margoagung Village to remain relevant in the digital era.
