OSAKA, JAPAN – Indonesian students have once again achieved international recognition. A team from MAN 2 Kota Malang won 3rd Place Winner Project (High School) at the Japan Youth Summit (JYS) 2026 Autumn Edition, held on October 19–22, 2026, at the Osaka International Convention Center (Grand Cube Osaka), Japan. The award recognized their innovative idea, PunarVastra, a platform designed to address the textile waste crisis.
Team Members
The team consists of nine students from MAN 2 Kota Malang, representing Group 6:
- Aulia Naura Nadhifa
- Daffa Taaj Mulkilakbar
- A. Riuki Sabrina Taufam
- Fian Chalif Azami
- Danisy Izzan Burhan
- Nahda Al Ikhtimam
- Lana Nazahiah
- Callysta Qabysha
- Safira Putri Febrianti
PunarVastra: An Innovation to Reduce Textile Waste
The MAN 2 Kota Malang team developed PunarVastra to address textile waste, an issue that often receives insufficient attention. Unwanted clothing frequently ends up as waste because people lack convenient access to appropriate collection and processing facilities.
The name PunarVastra is derived from Sanskrit, conveying the idea of renewing or reusing clothing. The concept aims to extend the useful life of textiles while significantly reducing the volume of textile waste.
To achieve this, PunarVastra is designed as a clothing collection platform that connects the public with donation partners, upcycling businesses, and recycling facilities. Through this system, wearable clothing can be redistributed to people in need, while items that are no longer suitable for use can be transformed into new products or sent to recycling partners.
Also read: International Collaboration Drives Group 2 to 2nd Place in Best Idea Innovation at JYS 2026
Encouraging Public Participation
PunarVastra also encourages active public participation. During their presentation, the team proposed a smart donation machine to facilitate textile collection and record-keeping. The public would also be able to access the service through a mobile application or web platform.
As an incentive, users would earn points each time they donate clothing. These points could then be exchanged for vouchers from partner micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This approach is expected to encourage people to participate more actively in collecting used clothing while helping MSMEs increase sales through voucher redemption.
The team also designed educational activities for students and the wider community. Topics include textile waste management, responsible clothing use, basic clothing repairs, and ways to turn used fabric into useful products.
PunarVastra aims to make textile waste management a more accessible everyday practice. Rather than being viewed merely as rubbish, used clothing can be recognized as a resource that still holds value.
An Achievement on the International Stage
The achievement of MAN 2 Kota Malang students at Japan Youth Summit 2026 demonstrates how Indonesian students can contribute innovative ideas to address environmental challenges. Through PunarVastra, the team highlights the importance of changing public habits in managing used clothing and promoting the continued use of textiles.
Their achievement at the JYS 2026 Autumn Edition reflects the spirit of “Innovate for Tomorrow.” It serves as a reminder that fresh ideas from young people have the potential to bring positive change and help shape a better future.
About Japan Youth Summit
Japan Youth Summit 2026 was the fourth edition of JYS, organized by Youth Break the Boundaries (YBB). Under the theme “Beyond Limits: Youth Leading the Next Era of Innovation and Global Stability,” the summit brought together young people from various countries to develop ideas, exchange perspectives, and collaborate in addressing global challenges.
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Therefore, any event using the JYS name without official approval from YBB is not an official Japan Youth Summit event. All parties are advised to exercise caution and ensure that information about JYS is obtained only through the official channels listed below.
Further Information
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 at the Japan Youth Summit (JYS) 2026){kind=link}