COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT OF WIDORO HAMLET THROUGH TRAINING ON SOAP MAKING FROM USED COOKING OIL WASTE

Abstract

Used cooking oil often ends up as a neglected waste in the home kitchen for the people of Widoro. The people of Widoro do not yet know that used of cooking oil can be reused such as making soap, biodiesel, or other alternative fuels. Used cooking oil discharge into the environment can cause water and soil pollution. Participatory Action Research (PAR) methods developed by Kurt Lewin aims to build community awareness in order to be able to empower themselves independently while bringing changes (transformative) in the social values of the community through counseling of determined materials. The type of method used was explanatory. The student group facilitates the community to participate in analyze need, problem, finding solutions before planning transformative actions. Used cooking oil purified before being used as a soap base. The material used for cooking oil refining is bamboo charcoal. Its components are fixed carbon, ash, water, nitrogen and sulfur Activated charcoal can adsorb odor, taste, color, and some organic substances. Soap is one kind of surfactant. From the results of the training, it was obtained that participants could practice soap making. Used cooking oil waste can be used as a material for making soap. This training provides knowledge and skills to participants in making soap from used cooking oil waste effectively.