74 Yogyakarta Student Teams Campaign for Clean Environment through Murals

YOGYAKARTA, GARISBUMI.com – A total of 74 Yogyakarta City student teams conveyed the message of keeping the environment clean through a mural competition in front of SMP Negeri 8 Yogyakarta, Saturday (10/10/2026). Puppet characters, the Code River, and activities to clean up Malioboro are part of the work that combines environmental concern with the city's cultural identity.

The competition with the theme "Authentic Culture, Clean Concrete" was organized by the Yogyakarta City Government through the Education, Youth and Sports Department to celebrate the 270th anniversary of the City of Yogyakarta. The participants came from junior high school/MTs and SMA/SMK/MA levels throughout the city of Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta City Regional Secretary Budi Santosa Asrori, who reviewed the competition, said this activity provided students with the opportunity to develop their artistic skills while conveying ideas about the city's future.

"Why the mural competition? Yes, to train children to express their artistic abilities as well as convey good messages, how the city of Yogyakarta can be better in the future. Strong culture, a clean city of Jogja, a cultured city, and so on," said Budi.

According to him, mural work is a means of character education that is close to everyday life. Through pictures, students can encourage people to protect the environment while caring for Yogyakarta culture.

Hanoman Cleans Malioboro

The combination of culture and environmental messages can be seen in the work of Antonius Andro Putra from Yohanes Bosco Middle School, Yogyakarta. He depicts a puppeteer who tells stories about Yogyakarta through wayang figures and cultural symbols.

"The theme is a puppeteer, telling a story about Jogja. In it there is a wayang, the story is in the mountains," said Antonius.