Not Only the Wilderness, Social Action Also Needs to Be Explored

MALANG, diaz.or.id – Exploring for a nature lover is not merely about penetrating dense forests, reaching mountain peaks, tracing dark caves, navigating river rapids or ocean depths. There is another space that also requires courage to explore, namely social space, mutual cooperation, and service to the community growing into concrete action.

This spirit was brought by OPA (Nature Lover Organization) DIAZ in the Free Mosque Cleaning (BMG) activity held in Sidorejo Village, Jabung District, Malang Regency, Sunday (04/10/2026). The activity targeted two locations, namely At-Taqwa Mosque and Al-Hijrah Prayer Room.

Not working alone, the organization with the full name "Climbers, Explorers and Nature Lovers DIAZ" also partnered with MAPALA ASPAL (Asia Nature Lovers) ITB Asia Malang and HIMPAS Vigneçvara STIE Malangkuçeçwara to jointly take action in cleaning and maintaining places of worship that are an important part of the religious life of the local community.

For OPA DIAZ, this activity is not merely cleaning a building. There is a message that wants to be conveyed, that the abilities, experiences, and spirit that have grown from activities in the open nature can also be returned to the community in the form of service.

When Adventure Changes Terrain

So far, the identity of nature lover organizations is closely associated with activities in the open nature. Mountains, forests, cliffs, rivers, and various other terrains become learning spaces for its members.

However, for OPA DIAZ, this spirit should not stop when feet leave climbing routes, river currents, or other extreme terrains. The ability to work in teams, facing difficult terrain, using safety equipment, and the courage to take responsibility are part of experiences that can be applied in social life. Therefore, the Free Mosque Cleaning activity becomes one way how these experiences are translated into actions that provide direct benefits.

If in the open nature members learn to protect the environment, through this activity they learn to bring care to the community. The terrain is indeed different. There are no steep routes or peaks to be reached. However, there are other challenges that are equally important, namely how to provide benefits through the skills possessed.

Cleaning glass at height on the outside of At-Taqwa Mosque building, Sunday (04/10/2026), (BMG documentation / Ibrahim Vigneç)

Making Places of Worship More Comfortable

Since the activity began, a number of OPA DIAZ members along with MAPALA ASPAL and HIMPAS Vigneçvara moved to clean various parts of the mosque and prayer room area. The interior of the building was cleaned, the yard was tidied, and several areas that needed attention were also handled. This work was done through mutual cooperation.

Members from various organizations work together to clean Al-Hijrah Prayer Room, Sunday (04/10/2026) (BMG Documentation / Harto Darmono W.)

For the community, a place of worship is not only a place to perform worship. It also becomes a gathering space, a place for visiting relatives, and becomes part of the social life of residents. Therefore, cleanliness and comfort of places of worship are important matters.

Through Free Mosque Cleaning, OPA DIAZ seeks to take part in maintaining this space so that it remains clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. The involvement of the mosque board becomes an important part of this activity. The board members accompany the cleaning process and provide information about parts of the place of worship that need attention and help in providing refreshments for the members.

Meanwhile, members of OPA DIAZ and MAPALA ASPAL as well as HIMPAS Vigneçvara also exerted their efforts to complete the work together. The spirit of mutual cooperation became a main part of the activity.

Reaching Difficult-to-Access Areas

There is another aspect that makes this Free Mosque Cleaning activity different from typical community service work. Cleaning was not only done in easily accessible areas. OPA DIAZ also cleaned the outer sides of the building at height.

Glass cleaning at height on the outside of the building by members with professional TKPK competence (BMG Documentation, Sunday (04/10/2026) / Harto Darmono W.)

For an organization that has a close connection with nature activities and extreme terrain, work at height also becomes a space to apply the experience and technical skills possessed. However, experience alone is not enough. Safety remains a priority. Therefore, work on the outside of the building is carried out with the support of appropriate equipment and personnel who have the ability to handle activities at height.

This work requires special handling because it is carried out in an area that has safety risks. For this reason, the cleaning process is carried out using special safety equipment for work at height and is handled by professional personnel who have competence in this field.

Collaboration That Becomes Strength

Social activities will have a wider impact when carried out together. This is evident in the Free Mosque Cleaning activity of OPA DIAZ in Sidorejo Village. In addition to DIAZ members, the activity also involved the mosque management and Mapala ASPAL along with HIMPAS Vigneçvara. This collaboration brought together several elements with different backgrounds, but with the same goal of providing benefits to the community.

"The hardest part was cleaning the tape residue on the window glass. But because we're doing it together, we'll definitely find a solution, VIVA ASPAL" - said Amelia Riska, a representative of MAPALA ASPAL

The mosque management understands the needs of the place of worship and the local environmental conditions. DIAZ brings the experience of a nature-loving organization and the technical capabilities it possesses. Meanwhile, MAPALA ASPAL and HIMPAS Vigneçvara also contributed the energy and enthusiasm of students in this social activity.

There are no barriers between organizations, communities, or mosque management. Everyone took part according to their respective abilities. From this, the Free Mosque Cleaning activity not only resulted in a cleaner environment, but also brought people together in an activity with a social purpose. The meeting of various elements then became a collaborative effort.

Members from various organizations can be seen joking together during lunch break, Sunday (04/10/2026) (documentation BMG / Harto Darmono W.)

From Nature for Society

Being a nature lover does not only mean having closeness with mountains, forests, rivers, or various other landscapes. Beyond that, there are values embedded in this activity: care, responsibility, solidarity, courage, cooperation, and the ability to adapt to field conditions.

These values are what OPA DIAZ then tries to bring into the social sphere. Free Mosque Cleaning becomes one way to show that a nature-loving organization can also be present in the community with the capabilities it possesses. The activity also serves as a reminder that environmental conservation has a broad scope.

Caring for nature is part of concern. Maintaining the cleanliness of places of worship and facilities used by the community is also a form of care. With such a perspective, social action is not merely an additional activity, but becomes part of an organization's journey in finding its form of usefulness.

Exploring Further

For OPA DIAZ, a journey does not always have to be measured by the distance traveled. There are journeys whose measure is not kilometers, but benefits. There are also terrains that are not mountain slopes or forest trails, but community needs waiting to be touched with concrete action.

"Why should exploration be limited to activities in the wilderness, when in my opinion humanitarian activities like SAR and mosque cleaning that we will do tomorrow are also forms of exploration. In the sense of bringing the spirit of exploration to the community" - said M. Fauzi, Vice Chairman of OPA DIAZ in an interview, on Saturday (03/10/2026)

Through Free Mosque Cleaning, OPA DIAZ tries to open up this space for exploration. The activity in Sidorejo Village is one step toward expanding the meaning of "exploring". From the wilderness to the social sphere. From adventure activities to service. From personal experience to shared benefits. This activity also shows that skills gained from the world of nature lovers can have benefits outside of adventure activities, including when used to help the community.

In the end, mountains are not the only place to learn about life. Forests are not the only place to find challenges. And the wilderness is not the only space to show courage. In the midst of society there are many things that can be explored. There are needs that can be helped, environments that can be cared for, and social spaces that can be filled with concern.

Free Mosque Cleaning OPA DIAZ in Sidorejo Village is one form of this journey. A journey that does not end at the summit, but in benefits. A journey that does not leave footprints on the climbing trail, but leaves an impression in the community. Because for DIAZ, it is not only the wilderness that needs to be explored, social action also needs to be explored.