One of the best things the fortunates have done for the less fortunates.

The Colorful Village or "Kampung Warna Warni" is located in Jodipan Village, Malang city, East Java. It was first started as an assignment for a group of university students at University Muhammadiyah in Malang. The students were on CSR mission to clean up after the village. Due to the situational condition of the village that was close to the river, the students started the assignment from cleaning out the river as it was the villagers' everyday necessity. Heavily polluted, the river was finally cleaned and the villagers were educated about the harm of a polluted river if they kept on throwing trash away in there.

Students then had an idea to actually help out renovate and color all of the houses in this village. Just like my social travel mission back in Alor, after gaining supports from their perspective heads in the university and received sponsors for the paints, they told the villagers about their plan to color the village.

Much to their surprise, the villagers were welcomed to the idea and was excited to help their home to be beautifully painted and renovated. They were excited to the fact that their village could become a tourist spot and would then create additional income for their village.

Students then gathered to start painting colorful walls and roof at Kampung Warna Warni Jodipan. Students also collaborated with local graffiti artists and mural experts to create one of a kind public "home" exhibition. Another thing I like about this place is that they don't only rely on paints to make their village colorful, but they also decorate it with other unique stuffs, including umbrella, hanging frames and colorful boxes!



[caption id="attachment_2624" align="alignnone" width="3000"] Warna Warni Pustaka - Colorful Library[/caption]

Not forgetting their mission to educate the villagers (as well as guests, too), Kampung Warna Warni Jodipan also built a small library for people to enjoy borrowing and reading books, and a Walk of Fame that hangs pictures of Indonesia's national heroes! So not only Kampung Warna Warni Jodipan is picture perfect and no doubt Instagrammable, it can also educate you! As a photogenic tourist destination, Kampung Warna Warni Jodipan does not only offer the same objects to be photographed. The villagers would periodically modifies several photo spots to make it more attractive, so tourists and locals would always find new photo spots to share at all times!

[caption id="attachment_2636" align="alignnone" width="3000"] Heroes Walk of Fame[/caption]

The success of Kampung Warna Warni Jodipan is altered through the synergy between several different aspects of departments. The combination of academic, government, society and private sectors are the reason this colorful village become a successful tourist destination in Malang and will stay one of the best if these four continues to work hand in hand to produce better tourism for Indonesia!

Kampung Warna Warni Jodipan or the Colorful Village of Jodipan covers three neighborhood groups (Rukun Tetangga [RT]), and was finished colored and renovated in 2016. There are three entrance gate with a fee of Rp. 2000/person. It is definitely a place you should not miss the next time you are in Malang, East Java!