UMM Students Empower Society Through Rosemary Organic Soap

The team of UMM students developed the Rosemary Soap UMKM. (Photo: Special)

University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) always encourages its academic community to do community service. This time it was the turn of the UMM student team through the Student Creativity Program - Community Service (PKM-PM), taking the initiative to form creative entrepreneurs in Bandulan Village, Sukun District, Malang City. The PKM-PM group consisting of Afiyah Chantika Fatmasary, Novita Dewi Anggraeni, Andy Harlissa, and Nadira Safira Darmaji made Rosemary Organic Soap a mainstay product for local UMKM.
Afiyah Chantika, as the team leader, said that what chose the development of the rosemary soap product was based on the results of discussions with residents. During the discussion, they found that the Covid-19 pandemic situation increased the need for soap. Seeing the opportunities, the UMM student group then assisted and developed UMKM with this rosemary soap product.

"The pandemic has increased the need for soap. This can certainly be an opportunity to improve the economy of the people of Bandulan," she added.

Fiya, her nickname, explained her reason for choosing rosemary flowers as soap. One of them is because the flower has a high content of anti-bacterial substances. So it is suitable as an ingredient of soap that functions to prevent bacteria on the skin. In addition, rosemary also has a distinctive fragrance, so it does not require additional fragrance.

Assistance in building creative UMKM is aimed at PKK mothers. Since last June, they have provided 15 training and mentoring. Local women were taught how to make soap and how to market their products. Currently, organic rosemary soap has been sold in many local shops. Fiya explained who will sell related soap products online to get a broader market. The price of the soap itself is only Rp. 11,000.

The PKM-PM entitled "Innovation of Alternative Organic Rosemary Soap Efforts to Maintain Cleanliness and Improve the Economy in Bandulan Village, Sukun District - East Java" has passed funding from the Directorate General of Higher Education (DIKTI) last May. In addition, this UMM Pharmacy student hopes that his party can form UMKM through this service, which can create economic independence, especially for the local community. "We hope this activity can continue. It doesn't stop in the Bandulan area. That way, other villages will emerge that have mainstay products and economic independence," she concluded. (apg/haq/wil)