Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta through Technical Unit of Community Service Program (UPKKN), Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) inaugurates two student groups for KKN to Raja Ampat, West Papua and Sabah, Malaysia on Wednesday (12/28/2016). The first group, consists of 19 students, will be placed in Sabah, Malaysia; while the second group of 14 students will be sent to Raja Ampat, West Papua.
Sulistyo Saputro enrobes symbolic hat to Ikbar Nurmartanu Fajar, Community Service Program (KKN) Group Leader for Raja Ampat, during the 6th Integrative Thematic Community Service Program to Raja Ampat, West Papua and Sabah, Malaysia in inaugural event
This inauguration is the third time after UNS had previously sent undergraduate students to Sabah last year. Sulistyo Saputro, Director of Research and Community Service Institute said that the inauguration of the two student groups was done earlier since the destinations for these groups are technically very difficult to reach. “(They will be) placed earlier because they need longer time to arrive, through plane and ship trips, so their program length will be the same as other students, which is 45 days”, said Mr Saputro. Initially, the Sabah KKN team will set off by plane from Solo on January 3, 2017 and the Raja Ampat KKN team will sail for approximately 5 days from December 2016.
The Sabah KKN team will be placed at Community Learning Center, Kota Kinabalu to teach Indonesian migrant workers. By carrying focus on “Painting The Future of Indonesian Migrant Workers Children in Sabah through Spirit of Nationalism”, the team is expected to aid these children in receiving proper education by developing basic education framework, supplying more books in libraries, introducing Indonesian culture, and engaging in inspirational-class activities.
On the other hand, the Raja Ampat KKN sets focus on “Building Creative Society, Activeness, Self-Reliant, and Care for Motherland” through the following activities such as character building, basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle workshop, establishing libraries, starting anti-malaria movement, conducting compost processing, and conducting agricultural training for local peasants. These various programs focus on local citizens as a way to empower them through proper training and also to help them cope with living in remote and isolated areas, as well as to grow their sense of nationalism.
Sabah KKN team leader, Alif Datu Nurjati Prasetyo, reporting his team’s planned work programs to Director of Research and Community Service Institute UNS.
“Not only education and small entrepreneurship that become the priorities for these KKN teams, but also the sense of belonging of this nation and nationalistic spirit especially along borderline areas which are remote and isolated”, said Mr. Sulistyo. Furthermore, Mr. Sulistyo explained that in order to actualize UNS as the world class university in 2030, UNS is now seeking more opportunities and supports for students who are interested in developing remote areas outside Java and Indonesia through KKN. Mr. Sulistyo further uttered, “If the students participating in KKN are only nearby their living places, they are not giving their best effort to develop the communities. If they choose to develop borderline and isolated areas, they will see Indonesia from different perspective and its full potential”.
Other than that, upcoming on January 10, 2017, UNS will officially inaugurate 2226 students for KKN 6th Period, including 19 students who will be in Sabah and 14 students in Raja Ampat, which has been inaugurated earlier. Around 1865 students will be placed in Java, while 328 students are in charge of outside Java. [ossama.red.uns.ac.id]
Community Development Program (KKN) is a mandatory program for all undergraduate students in UNS who have completed at least fifth-semester study. Students will be teamed up to do volunteer work in designated areas for 45 days.