From Idea to Impact: DonASI POD Arrives at Salman Mosque ITB through Collaboration between DKST ITB and Rumah Amal Salman

Bandung, dkst.itb.ac.id – It has been more than two months since DonASI POD arrived at Salman Mosque ITB, yet its resonance and benefits continue to be felt. As an inclusive portable nursing room, this facility has become an important symbol of collaboration among social startups, academic institutions, and religious institutions in answering community needs. DonASI, a startup fostered by the Directorate of Science and Technology Area (DKST) ITB, has proven that social innovation born from empathy can generate real impact.

DonASI was born from a simple yet meaningful story: a mother struggling to find breast milk donors, while on the other hand, another mother had a surplus of unutilized breast milk. This disparity revealed a gap in the breastfeeding support system in Indonesia. From there, DonASI began to be developed as a connecting platform between mothers in need and mothers willing to donate breast milk.

However, DonASI's journey did not stop there. Through in-depth research and discussions with lactation experts, DonASI understood that the breastfeeding problem is not only about the availability of breast milk but also about education, support, and facilities. One of the biggest obstacles to the success of exclusive breastfeeding is the lack of adequate nursing rooms in public spaces and workplaces. Thus, DonASI POD was born, an innovative, portable, and comfortable nursing facility for public spaces.

The first installation of DonASI POD was placed at Salman Mosque ITB in February 2025. This location was not chosen without reason. As a center for religious and social activities, especially during Ramadan, Salman Mosque becomes a gathering place for thousands of worshippers, including nursing mothers and young families. The need for a safe and comfortable nursing room became increasingly urgent.

Through collaboration with Rumah Amal Salman and the Salman Mosque ITB Foundation, DonASI POD is present as an inclusive solution that allows nursing mothers to perform their worship and social activities peacefully. This facility also becomes a symbol of the openness of religious institutions to the needs of young families in public spaces.

Design that Prioritizes Function and Empathy

DonASI POD is not just a nursing booth. It is a space designed with detail and empathy. Inside, there is an ergonomic chair, a work desk, a baby changing table, electrical and USB outlets, and a soundproofing system to maintain the privacy of mother and child.

Access to the POD is easy and orderly. Through the web application halodonasi.glide.page, users simply choose the location, fill in brief data, and immediately receive a unique access code. This system encourages targeted and orderly use.

The POD's design refers to the standards of the WHO and the Indonesian Ministry of Health, and is adapted to the limitations of public spaces in Indonesia. Collaboration with professional interior designers resulted in a clean, warm, and user-friendly appearance.

During the incubation process at DKST ITB, DonASI received comprehensive support: ranging from product development grants, business mentoring, access to mentors, to strategic collaborator connections. This process helped DonASI develop its ideas into functional products ready for public use.

The DKST ITB incubation program itself is designed to support technology-based and social startups so they can grow with a professional approach. Through DonASI, DKST ITB shows that social innovation can be spurred with systematic and widely impactful methods.

Following its launch, DonASI POD at Salman Mosque received positive responses from users. Many nursing mothers appreciate the comfort and privacy offered by the POD. Some even called their nursing experience in the POD the first experience that was truly "comfortable and appreciated".

Vidya, the founder of DonASI, shared one of the testimonials they once received: "Usually, my child does not want to nurse in public spaces because it is noisy or uncomfortable. But in this POD, he is calm, and I can also rest for a while." Testimonials like this strengthen DonASI's position as a solution provider that is not only functional but also empathetic.

Toward Expansion and Sustainability

DonASI does not stop at Salman Mosque. With a long-term mission to become an integrated platform supporting exclusive breastfeeding and stunting prevention, DonASI targets the expansion of PODs to various other public spaces: shopping centers, airports, stations, offices, and even places of worship in other cities.

DonASI POD's sustainability model is designed through cooperation with public space managers. This facility can be accessed for free by the public, while DonASI establishes partnerships with institutional parties as providers and main sponsors. This opens up synergy opportunities among the private, public, and social sectors in providing community-based health infrastructure.

The story of DonASI is proof that social innovation can grow from simple care, yet develop into a real solution with the support of the right ecosystem. DKST ITB, in its role as an innovation facilitator, proves that strategic mentoring, in addition to capital, is the key to turning ideas into impact.

The installation of DonASI POD at Salman Mosque is not just the achievement of one startup, but a symbol of the collaborative spirit that can be emulated among academics, innovators, and community institutions. Hopefully, this step will be the beginning of the transformation of more inclusive and family-friendly public spaces in Indonesia.