UNS — One of the issues faced by the Indonesian population during the Covid-19 pandemic is food resilience. The weak national economy has a concerning impact on people, with many employees are laid-off and some businesses are failing. The concern over this condition encourages Group 211 of the Student Community Service Program (KKN) Thematic Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta to initiated the Kompak Peduli Tetangga Program (Komplit) (together care for neighborhood).
The Komplit Program is directed for the community in RT 04 RW 06, Gawanan Hamlet, Sukoharjo Village, Sukoharjo Subdistrict, Sukoharjo District. Under the supervision from Dyah Yuni Kurniawati, S.Sn., M.Sn., Group 211 KKN UNS initiated the development of Center for Staple Foods as a place that provides various basic needs such as rice, sugar cooking oil, and sources of proteins such as tofu, tempeh, and egg. The Center was established in front of Gudang Bolo Pecah RT 4 RW 6, Gawanan Hamlet. The location is selected due to its strategic position that is accessible by the surrounding community.
To the uns.ac.id team, Widdya Asmara Dewi shares Group 211 KKN UNS experiences in building the Center. As the team leader, Widdya said that her team took the initiator role and donated staple foods in the opening of the Komplit Program on Friday (13/8/2021). This action is expected to provide an example for the surrounding community. Therefore, the program could continue and help in achieving food security in Gawanan Hamlet, especially amid the pandemic.
“This program aims to grow social awareness, kinship, and gotong-royong of the community in Gawanan Hamlet,” Widdya said on Sunday (29/8/2021).
Widdya also added that the community in Gawanan Hamlet was enthusiastic in welcoming the Komplit Program observed from the number of people who visited the Center for Staple Foods. They also donated some staple foods voluntarily. “The donors and receiver of staple foods are increasing at the second and third week of this program,” Mayang Dwi Anggraeni, Group 211 KKN UNS member, stated. However, the Group continues monitoring the program to ensure that the people are implementing health protocols by requiring the community to wear a mask, keep physical distance, wash hands, and use provided hand sanitizer when visiting the Center.
Besides initiating the Center for Staple Food, Group 211 KKN UNS also initiated the Literacy Corner Program to increase people’s reading interest. This program started with an invitation to donate books through social media like Instagram and WhatsApp. The donated books are displayed at Musala Al-Ikhlas as the Literacy Corner in Gawanan Hamlet. At least 32 books are collected from donors, and the team was also donating some books for the program. To achieve the objective of the program for providing reading materials for all people, the collected books consist of novels, religious books, textbooks, biography, and inspirative stories.
“Literacy Corner opens knowledge gate for Gawanan Hamlet people. The books are displayed in wooden bookshelves are free to be borrowed or read by the community,” Mayang concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Alinda Hardiantoro
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
