Thematic Kampung in Semarang: Between Hope and Struggle to Maintain It

This article is the result of research on the process of forming and developing Thematic Kampungs in Semarang.To overcome urban problems related to community poverty and slum settlements in kampungs, the City Government launched the Thematic Kampung Program. This program not only makes improvements, but also carries out several innovations that make the kampungs clean, beautiful, organized and attractive. Since the Thematic Kampungs Program was formed in 2016 to 2020, there have been many kampungs that have succeeded in realizing the city government's program objectives, namely making Thematic Kampungs into clean, beautiful and prosperous kampungs for their people. In addition to the Thematic Kampungs that were successful, there were also Thematic Kampungs that failed to become ideal kampung. The method used in this study is a qualitative method with a historical and sociological approach. Data collection was carried out by field observations and in-depth interviews.The results of the study show that since 2020 the condition of most of the Thematic Kampungs has decreased, because in addition to limited management, it is also due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit Indonesia. The community tries to improve the conditions of the Thematic Kampung into an ideal kampung.


Introduction
The city is inseparable from the kampung (part of the village) because, in the city, various kampungs have unique dynamics. Kampung is a distinctive residential culture in Indonesia that grows and develops together with the city's existence. Within the kampung, various community characters are created by social, economic, and cultural conditions (1). The existence of kampung as settlements built independently by their residents can maintain human values in modern urban dynamics (2).
Semarang and big cities in third world countries, which have experienced rapid population growth since the 20th century, also experience urban problems, such as unemployment, poverty, slums, and so on. These urban problems are borne by the city government, which must immediately find solutions (3).
One of the most pressing urban problems to find a solution is slum settlement caused by the high population density and the high demand for housing. These problems can cause, among others, poverty, sanitation, and environmental problems (4). Limited residential land in urban areas causes the poor to use the land around riverbanks, railways, and other places prohibited from building houses.

Methodology
The method used in this research is the descriptive qualitative method. The qualitative method is a research method that aims to understand the phenomena experienced by research subjects such as behavior, perception, motivation, and action as a whole. Qualitative methods are used because this study seeks to reveal social problems written in detail (8).
The descriptive method is used to describe facts, characteristics, and relationships of elements in the phenomenon being researched systematically and objectively (9). The descriptive method is used to help the writer to describe factually the relationship between the instruments studied. The analysis results are described in a detailed arrangement of words and language based on scientific principles or by utilizing various scientific methods (10).
In line with the problems and objectives to achieve this research, descriptive qualitative research methods can be carried out through historical and sociological approaches (11). The research approach used is a historical approach to explain research designs that have been formulated from various sources and literature related to the application of the concept and assess what factors influence the development of Thematic Kampungs. The historical approach is used to collect, select, and critically analyze historical sources, to produce historical facts. Historical facts are then analyzed in a systematic description through a cultural approach. The sociological approach is used to understand the factors related to social conditions in implementing the Thematic Kampung Program, community participation, hopes, and efforts to maintain the Thematic Kampungs.
Sources of data in this study were obtained from books, articles, and the results of research conducted using historical, descriptive analysis, namely an attempt to describe the process of formation, development, and problems in defense of the Thematic Kampungs in Semarang. In addition, data were obtained through interviews, field notes, photos, personal documents (12). Data collection was carried out by observation in the field and in-depth interviews. Determination of informants is done randomly for homogeneous and purposive samples to find informants who are by the research topic and snowball sampling to find informants who know the research problem based on recommendations from other parties.
After the data sources have been collected, source criticism is carried out through external and internal criticism to gain credibility and authenticity. The historical facts obtained are interpreted according to a cultural approach. The last stage is historiography, which is writing the research results in the form of articles.

Background of The Emergence of Thematic Kampungs And Their Current Conditions
In 2016, the mayor of Semarang Hendrar Prihadi made a breakthrough in the arrangement of the kampungs of Semarang, namely the Thematic Kampung Program. The Semarang City Government launched this Thematic Kampung Program to reduce poverty and unemployment, improve the quality of the residential environment, raise local wisdom in managing potential and solving environmental problems, and add tourist destinations (13). The purpose of making Thematic Kampungs is to move the economy to the lower layers that can stimulate economic growth and alleviate poverty in Semarang. The Thematic Kampung Program was implemented in 32 villages out of 177 urban villages in Semarang at the beginning of its implementation. Since the Thematic Kampung Program was implemented in 2016 to 2019, of the 209 Thematic Kampungs that were formed, only 28 Thematic Kampungs were in the sound and developing rankings, 131 Thematic Kampungs were in the middle of ordinary rankings, and 50 Thematic Kampungs were in the underdeveloped rank (14).
Several Thematic Kampungs that fall into the unsuccessful category are Kampung Jahe (Ginger) in Pleburan Village, Kampung Keripik Sukun (Breadfruit Chips) in Peterongan Village, Kampung Hydroponic in Tanjung Mas Village, Kampung PerajinTempe (Tempe Craftsmen) in Padangsari Village, Kampung Susu Perah (Dairy Cows Milk) in Gedawang Village. The conditions of some of the Thematic Kampungs that are less successful or those in mediocre conditions: -The formation of Kampung Jahe (Ginger) in Kelurahan Pleburan did not raise the theme of a kampung by the original potential of the area. The theme of ginger was raised because of the desire of one of the parties who own a ginger garden, which will be developed as an economic commodity in the pond. The adoption of the ginger theme was not socialized and communicated with other kampung communities. -Because there is no communication and socialization about Thematic Kampung Jahe (Ginger), there is no welcome and participation from the community. In the planning process, there is no match between residents and kampung officials in determining the theme of Thematic Kampungs. The theme raised was not by the potential of the Pleburan area. As a result, the implementation of the Thematic Kampung Program in medicine business was still producing herbal medicine in traditional ways. Since its establishment as Kampung Jamu, Wonolopo village has received much assistance from government agencies such as the Health Office, which provides training and assistance to herbal medicine artisans in Wonolopo village. This training and mentoring provide skills by the potential of the community, namely training in hygienic herbal processing techniques, counseling on the dangers of using drugs in food, skills in making instant herbal medicine, introduction to herbal pounding tools, and the use of mechanical devices to make jamu flour and extension of financial management. And marketing. Other potentials also support the progress of Kampung Jamu.  Kampung Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice) is located in Panggung Kidul Village, North Semarang District. This kampung was originally known as Kampung Brotojoyo Barat. Kampung Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice) is a densely populated kampung but has economic potential. Namely, 22 residents make a living as chicken rice traders. Therefore, the sub-district proposed the name of this kampung as Thematic Kampung Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice Thematic). The chicken rice traders in this kampung sell their wares by selling at home, selling around the kampung, selling installs outside the kampung and several areas in the city of Semarang.
After being designated as Kampung Nasi Ayam, there were changes in the physical and social life of the community. Environmental improvements and arrangements are carried out by painting and making murals on the walls of the fences and houses of residents. The social life of the community has increased with the recognition of this Kampung Nasi Ayam. Like the problems of kampungs in Indonesia in general, Kampung Nasi Ayam, before being appointed as a Thematic Kampung, also experienced poverty problems, problems with limited facilities and infrastructure for the public, environmental health problems that had not been addressed, inadequate spatial planning, community participation that had not yet been developed.
This problem has been gradually resolved through programs compiled by the Semarang City government and sub-district officials and their staff, RW and RT, and PKK. The stimulant funds disbursed by the Semarang City Government are used to improve the village environment, such as making gates, repairing culverts and waterways, etc. The socialization process carried out by the City Government and kampung officials did not experience any problems because the community was very enthusiastic about the Kampung Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice) program, which changed the image of the slum into a healthy and orderly village.
The changes experienced by Kampung Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice) are apparent. The kampung is clean, and the environment is neatly arranged. Assistance and training carried out by various parties such as the Semarang City Government, the Semarang City Health Office, and various CSRs have positively impacted the community. They better understand health factors and hygienic food production, and sound and attractive food packaging. The provision of management and product knowledge has also increased people's knowledge to improve the quality of their production. With good production, the turnover and culinary orders for chicken rice will increase. This rapidly increasing sales also had an impact on improving the economy of the community.

Expectations and Efforts to Maintain Thematic Kampung in Semarang
The Thematic Kampung Programs in Semarang that have been running are the kampung community's needs and conditions. The needs of the kampungs community are formulated in the form of the Thematic Kampung.
Program design resulting from the coordination of RT, RW, and Kelurahan. Subsequently, Kelurahan submits the design of the Kampung program to the District. After the program design is coordinated with various parties and stakeholders, it is then submitted to Bappeda to the City Government.
The Thematic Kampung Program created by the community and stakeholders in the Kelurahan is expected to realize the kampung development needed by the community. The City Government's policies relating to the formation of these Thematic Kampungs are bottom-up, not top-down. The bottom-up approach provides more space for the community and other stakeholders to be involved in development programs, although government involvement is still possible but only as a facilitator. The involvement of these stakeholders is not only at the implementation stage but also from planning to evaluation. The weakness of this approach is that it takes a long time and process to organize all stakeholders to be willing to be involved, so this approach is not suitable when changes are needed quickly. The top-down approach gives a substantial portion of the government control over the implementation of development so that the community only acts as an object of development (15).
The different approach between top-down and bottom-up in the implementation of Thematic Kampungs is one of the causes of the failure of Thematic Kampung in Semarang. For kampungs, where the population is very heterogeneous in the economy, education, and culture, getting community participation is difficult and takes a long time.
On the other hand, if the kampungs are very homogeneous, it is easy to encourage community participation.
There are many reasons why the number of successful Thematic Kampung is very minimal, only around 13.40%. Some of the obstacles in realizing a successful Thematic Kampung include: -There are still regional stakeholders who do not understand the spirit of the Thematic Kampung whose main objective is to fix the slum kampungs , while at the same time utilizing the local potential of the kampungs. -Many kampungs have forced themselves to take part in the Thematic Kampung Program. The community determines a theme for their kampungs , but it is not based on cultural studies, village history, community potential and kampungs potential.
-Community empowerment is not optimal. To advance the kampungs, it is hoped that the community can play an active role. To mobilize community participation, a figure / party is needed who can encourage that participation.
-Socialization about the Thematic Kampung Program that is less focused and unsustainable -Unclear and inconsistent direction from stakeholders.
-The mismatch between environmental potential and the Thematic Kampung Program that will be developed The success of the Thematic Kampungs are supported by factors : -Communication, is one of the important factors that determine the success of a program. Through good communication, it is hoped that errors and irregularities will not occur in the implementation of the program. Bappeda as program coordinator must understand deeply about the aims and objectives of the Thematic Kampung Program and its implementation instructions. Semarang Bappeda as the coordinator of the Thematic Kampung Program is obliged to provide outreach to urban kampung and the community to introduce and provide an understanding of the aims and objectives of the Thematic Kampung Program.
Intensive communication between kampung officials and the community will provide an understanding that this Thematic Kampung Program is a program that must involve the community proactively.
-The community must understand the benefits that will be generated by the existence of the Thematic Kampung program, so that community participation is easy to implement.
-The expected change is an increase in community welfare, namely the ability of the community to meet their daily needs, starting from income, education, health and housing -The synergy between various resources will affect the success of the program. In the Thematic Kampung Program in Semarang City, Human Resources (HR) who play a role include Semarang City Development Planning Agency, Central Java IAI (Indonesian Architects Association), OPD (Regional Apparatus Organization), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and kampung residents. The financial resources of the Thematic Kampung Program come from the Semarang City Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget of 200 million for each Thematic Kampung.
-Compliance and responsiveness to regulations that serve as guidelines in implementing Thematic Kampung Programs, namely Semarang Mayor Regulation Number 22 of 2018 concerning Guidelines for Thematic Kampungs Implementation. This mayoral regulation should be followed by the technical implementation of all program implementers. Early in 2020 the world was excited because of a new disease caused by the Covid-19 virus (Corona virus disease). This vicious virus has an impact on weakening activity in various sectors. One of the worst impacts is on the economic sector, namely the tourism sector. The tourism sector that has recently been developed by the Mayor of Semarang is the formation of Thematic Kampungs. Thematic Kampungs are being intensively developed for the tourism sector. After the Covid-19 pandemic changed drastically. The condition of the Thematic Kampungs which at the beginning of its formation became a new tourist destination which was expected to be visited by many people, turned into a lonely one because people did not dare to do activities outside the home. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Semarang City, the number of community visits to Thematic Kampungs has been very low. This of course has an impact on decreasing people's income.
It has been a long time since the government has handled the spread of Covid-19 which has claimed many victims. Starting from February 2020, the Semarang City Government has carried out the response to Covid-19, such as, among others: -To coordinate, socialize and educate on prevention and control efforts to elements of society and business actors -Providing body temperature detection devices and hand sanitizers and masks for those who are sick to support prevention and control efforts and ensure public places are clean and hygienic.
-Postponing and limiting activities that can present large crowds to public places (weddings, car free days, seminars and so on) -Establish an integrated information post in each agency.
-Mass spraying of disinfectants in main streets and villages.
-Enforcement of social distancing in public places and public service. Even though the Covid-19 outbreak is not yet known when it will end, optimism for Thematic Kampungs must be grown to maintain the existence of these Thematic Kampungs. For that, we need strengthening and efforts to foster a spirit of innovation in society. We can see some of the community's innovations in the efforts of the people of Kampung Pelangi to provide courses on planting and caring for flowers online, selling flowers online, and so on. Likewise with the people of Kampung Jamu (Herbal), Kampung Alam Malon, Kampung Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice), Kampung Batik and other kampungs, they market their kampungs products online. In addition, there are also many activities for residents to provide courses on how to make their kampung's products through YouTube.
On the one hand, the Covid 19 pandemic is a national disaster. However, on the other hand, it provides options for the community to survive by finding innovations and solutions that have not previously been developed. The public realizes that current technological advances are needed as a solution to revive the economy and people's welfare.

Conclusions
The development of Thematic Kampungs in Semarang still requires strong efforts from the Semarang City Government, stakeholders, and the community. Seeing the development of Thematic Kampungs that the Semarang City Government has proclaimed since 2016, the results achieved have not met expectations, because, in 2019, it was recorded that out of 209 Thematic Kampungs formed, only 13.40% were included in the good category, medium or ordinary category 62.68% and categories do not develop or fail 23.93%.
The failure of Thematic Kampungs to achieve the goals programmed by the City Government is caused by several factors that have not been implemented optimally, such as communication, socialization, community participation, financial support, and fostering of City Government officials and other stakeholders. On the other hand, the success of Thematic Kampungs is supported by several factors, including communication and program dissemination that is detailed and understood by all policymakers and the community.
What is very important is the community's social capital, namely participation, solidarity, and intensive cooperation. This community's social capital can encourage the community to solve problems that hinder the progress of Thematic Kampungs.
The Covid-19 pandemic that has hit the world since the end of 2019 has become a stimulant to foster creativity and innovation in rural communities for solutions in advancing Thematic Kampungs again.