Maga: A Plastic Waste Warrior from Banda

By Widya Hapsari

My heart truly warmed when I received the video and photos of Maga and the smiles of 22 elementary School kids that SeaTrek support to become waste warriors in Banda Island. I’m sure you will feel the same.

At the end of September 2025, Ombak Putih sailed from Ambon toward Ternate and the legendary Banda Island became our first stop. It was extraordinary place to begin our twelve days voyage.

The world knows Banda Island holds most significant spice trade history. Centuries ago, the Bandanese fiercely defended their dignity and their precious natural resources, the Nutmeg. Today, in new millennium, the same spirits lives on, not in trading spices, but in protecting the ocean and its ecosystem through community-led sea cleanup initiatives.

A Local Hero with a Big Heart

Magfira Ali, known simply as Maga, is a Bandanese who have been working on plastic waste management around Banda Islands. Our story with Maga began in 2019 when Jeni, our Conservation Officer, first met and invited Maga to present his work aboard Ombak Putih’s guests. His initiatives on organizing the marine debris clean up, to setting up waste collection, and management in Banda Neira inspired both our guests and the Banda community. His dedication on keep the Banda environment clean and quiet humility made his work even more inspiring, truly captivated our guest heart. For me personally, it wasn’t just his work that inspired the guest, but also the heart behind it.

When Covid-19 hit, both Seatrek and Maga were forced into quiet silent anchorage, a moment of deep sleep for us all. Yet beneath that stillness, we kept working, dreaming, and waiting for the wind to return and carry us toward a beautiful sailing again.

The Comeback

The story continued in 2025, Maga made his comeback aboard Ombak Putih to present his work again. This time, Maga present his work not only to Ombak Putih but also Katharina’s guests.

We invited Maga and his team to join our dinner in Cilu Bintang restaurant, a modest yet culturally rich restaurant that reflect the Banda’s long history. The evening was opened by one beautiful Bandanese folk song from local musician. After the performance, Maga and his team presenting his plastic waste management initiatives and also showcased his plastic recycled craft to our guests. He shared his story and showcase his beautiful crafts made from recycled plastic. Our guests were so inspired, some even bought his creation to take home as meaningful memories from Banda.

Maga, through his foundation Yayasan Cahaya Samudera Indonesia, been leading several initiatives around Banda. In collaboration with other organizations, he helped eight young Bandanese to get diving certifications. These divers now dedicated to underwater initiatives such as coral reef & biodiversity survey. Beyond protecting the sea, they also empowered themselves by becoming dive guides to lead divers enjoying Banda’s spectacular underwater realm. Arjuna, the young man on blue is now a rescue diver level and works closely with Maga for their daily basis on marine debris clean-up efforts.

Building Change from the Ground Up

During the dinner, I discussed with Maga about what his community needs most. At Seatrek, we want tourism to stay closer with grassroots community, not just visit it.

Maga present his current program with local schools, where they empowered the students to become recycled waste collections agent for their local waste bank. This initiative encourages kids to grow up with an environmental mindset. Also to enforce schools’ participations on reducing plastics based wrapped snacks that has been sale at schools. To date, his work has covered the surrounding islands including the famous Run & Ai Island that has been traded to Manhattan by the Dutch.

Seatrek committed to donating for every guest who sail with us during the trip to support Magas’s initiatives. In total, both boats empowered 22 elementary school kids become the agent of change.

Sailing for Good

Maga and his team expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Seatrek for being the first liveaboard that supported their work. I believe more liveaboard businesses will follow. This has to be a collaborative effort to support Maga and other Bandanese initiatives to protect their island and the sea they depend on.

Moments like this remind us why we keep striving to bring meaningful impact through our Sailing for Good initiative. As you may aware that one of our focuses is supporting local heroes whose working at the grassroots level. Including Maga, who leads waste management efforts with both courage and heart in Banda.

This wonderful connection wouldn’t have happened without all of you. The work continues and we invite you to join us on this journey.

Thank you for always Sailing for Good. ⛵️