Contrast: The colorful houses of Kampung Warna Warni in Jodipan (right) stand in sharp contrast to the settlement on the other side of the Brantas River in Malang, East Java.Eight communication students from Malang’s Muhammadiyah University (UMM) have converted a slummy settlement in the Jodipan area of Blimbing district, Malang, East Java, into a tourist destination.Today, the Brantas riverbank zone in Malang, East Java, displays neat homes with colorful roofs, walls, gates, footpaths and stone steps.

The students, calling themselves “Guys Pro Komunikasi UMM”, are Nabila Firdausiyah as group leader, Ira Yulia Astutik, Dinni Anggraeni, Salis Fitria, Wahyu Fitri Aningtyas, Elmy Rukhiatun Nur Aidah, Fahd Afdallah Ramadhan and Ahmad Wiratman.

Dinni said her group was taking a course in event public relations, in which they were tasked with creating a program beneficial ...