Surabaya, Indonesia – Urban Transformation: Successful Podcast Session on the Surabaya Urban Intervention

For urban transformation, there’s no substitute to the views of local people. Their stories and experiences are critical for building a picture of how change can succeed on a long-term basis. This spirit of inclusion inspired a podcast on community engagement by the Surabaya Urban intervention, as organised by Prosperity Fund Global Future Cities Programme.

The broadcast was produced at the Untag Surabaya Studio. Representatives of the kampong community in the Dolly area of Surabaya shared stories about their experiences before and after the closure of the historic red-light district. Three sessions were conducted altogether: the first with Mrs Vera (a dolly activist) and Mr Andy Matulessy (local psychologist), next with Mr Jarwo and Mr Nirwono (local champions), and then finally with Mr Pengky (local MSME batik) & Mr Slamet (a mural painter and handicraftsman).

These sessions offered a valuable opportunity for two neighbouring kampong communities (Jarak and Dolly) to understand each other’s perspective and exchange ideas. The participants openly shared how their personal stories were interwoven within Dolly’s community. Appearing on the podcast was one of their ways to celebrate Dolly's inclusiveness, as felt by many. Through this event, they have shared their visions of Dolly. For the intervention team, their conversations provided invaluable input for improving the quality and sustainable outcomes of this programme.

Use this link to listen to the podcast: PODCAST - Stigma Negatif Tokoh Ex Lokalisasi - YouTube

Author:

Retno Hastijanti, Deputy Team Lead for Surabaya Urban Transformation Intervention, Indonesia