UNS — 5 May is commemorated as Lembaga Sosial Desa (LSD) (Rural Social Institute) Day, which falls on Wednesday (5/5) 2021. Tirto.id mentioned that this celebration aims to improve social awareness for rural development activists in Indonesia.
In line with the growth of young generation awareness, village development no longer fall entirely on LSD’s shoulders. The young generation increasingly participated in various programs and innovations in the community. Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta students also actively participated in rural development in Solo Raya.
uns.ac.id pun has an opportunity to talk with Ririn Risqiana Rossi, Local Literature Program UNS student who focuses on the social movement field since 2019 when she served as BEM FIB Social Minister. Her ministry took an initiative step by establishing partnership and participating in Gembong Hamlet, Sambirejo Village, Jumantono Subdistrict, Karanganyar District. With her ten team members, Ririn successfully initiated Gerakan Bersama Masyarakat Desa (Gebrak) (Rural Community Collaboration) that facilitates FIB UNS students who want to come to the rural community and participate in its development.
Starting her duty as Social Minister with zero experience, Ririn was determined to develop a means for FIB UNS students to get closer and contribute to the rural community. The movement started with her ministry looking for a hamlet to be assisted but then develop into a campaign to facilitates student service for the community. “That idea appeared, and then (we) formulate Gebrak Desa,” Ririn said on Tuesday (4/5/2021).
After considering their human resource availability and the rich potential of the hamlet, her team decided to start the movement from the hamlet level instead of the village level. The community also positively welcomed their team and program, supporting and embracing the coming students. The new program also received positive responses from students, whose enthusiasm encouraged Ririn and the team to work harder.
Programs
The team prepared a strategic plan (Renstra) of the community service program that targets the agricultural, socio-cultural, and educational fields, especially literacy. In 2019, their program introduced various routine activities and big events before they launched the Gebrak Desa movement in September with the signing of the memorandum of understanding. The campaign has multiple activities, such as Semarak Kampung Ramadan that collaborated with SKI FIB, Gebrak Desa Mengajar for elementary schools, and Pensil Pena event for the community, students, and parents.
In 2020, during her service as BEM FIB UNS President, Ririn introduced programs that focused on entrepreneurial training and product marketing which was implemented mid-2020 by applying tight health protocols.
Challenges
Various challenges stood in the program’s ways. Starting from attracting students’ interest to participate, Renstra formulation that requires the team to consult the village as this is their first Assisted Hamlet. The distances that the team needed to travel posed another challenge. “Without a strong will, we surely stopped midway due to fatigue. So we need to strengthen the team, and Alhamdulillah, we could manage our fellow’s expectation, because we are the initiator, fatigue is the consequence,” she explained.
When the pandemic hit Indonesia, their program faced another challenge. Plans need to be adjusted, and the managing committee needs to adapt to the new unprecedented condition. However, this event has taught another valuable lesson for Ririn, who appreciates her team and hopes that the movement will continue to benefit and motivate many others to start a social campaign.
“Knowledge is not only for us but also for how it is implemented and benefits others and the community,” she said.
Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs
After concluded her service in FIB, now Ririn holds more significant responsibility as the Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs in BEM UNS. Her ministry directs the Ministry for Rural Development that collaborates with Plosorejo Village, Karanganyar as Assisted Village. She explained that according to Renstra, 2021 is the last year for coaching in Plosorejo, with the previous program to market rice bran cookies initiated in 2019.
“We have found a matched recipe to be socialized. Hopefully, this product can support the community economy. There is also potential for orchid cultivation. We assisted in branding. Hopefully, what was initiated by previous management could run smoothly,” she added.
What she and her team did is forever live in her life motto to Lead, Learn, Love. To be a leader, to continue learning, and doing her jobs with love. Humas UNS
Reporter: Kaffa hidayati
Editor: Dwi Hastuti