The Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), through the Organizational Capacity Strengthening Program (PPK Ormawa), has officially launched the Ndalem Waru. This institution, developed in collaboration with the youth organization and local arts group Pasewa, was inaugurated as part of the Waru Cultural Festival. This annual cultural event, hosted by the Waru Village Government in cooperation with the local community and the Waru Artists Association (Pasewa), took place on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, in the village hall courtyard.

The Ndalem Waru launching ceremony was attended by 35 of Ndalem Waru managing committee for the 2024-2029 term, village officials, 10 Pasewa representatives, community members, the Waru Village Chief, the PPK Ormawa BEM FEB UNS 2024 supervising lecturer, and other UNS representatives. Rosyid Tryanggana Alvi, the Head of the PPK Ormawa BEM FEB UNS Team, shared that this institution was initiated to create an inclusive platform that empowers the community while enhancing Waru Village’s reputation as a center of cultural arts.

Supporting this vision, the Supervising Lecturer, Retno Tanding Suryandari, emphasized the benefits of the PPK Ormawa program. “The PPK Ormawa initiative brings valuable benefits to all participants—Waru Village as a partner, the student team, and UNS as the supporting institution. This launch signifies a strong commitment to sustaining the programs previously designed by BEM FEB students,” she remarked.

The establishment of this institution involved a series of discussions and collaborations with the local community. Its primary focus includes initiatives in personal branding and social media development, including creating official social media accounts and a dedicated website to promote the cultural activities of Waru Village. Ndalem Waru is expected to mark a positive start in increasing community collaboration and engagement in preserving the artistic heritage of Waru Village, which has been recognized as a cultural art village.

The institution also aims to raise public awareness about Waru Village’s identity as a cultural art hub. “I hope this institution encourages everyone in our community, whether young or old, artists or not, to work together to promote, preserve, and manage Javanese art and culture in Waru Village,” said Sularto, the Village Chief of Waru.

The launch event also featured a performance of the “Ronggeng Nyentrik” dance by elementary school students from Waru Village School 01. Dance training is one of the programs introduced by the PPK Ormawa BEM FEB UNS 2024 Team, aimed at fostering an appreciation of cultural arts among the younger generation.