UNS — Students are expected to be aware of problems around them. A part of the community also views that students should take a role as the agent of change. Compelled by humanity, Uthie Munawaroh, student of Sociology Program of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UNS answered this problem by joining Sahabat Kapas (Cotton Buddy) Foundation.
Sahabat Kapas is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) focuses on children in the prison. Currently, Sahabat Kapas Foundation located in Karanganyar, Central Java. The student who known as Uthie, admitted that she joined the foundation early January 2018 ago in an internship program for two months. During her internship, the foundation opened open recruitment for volunteer. “Because I am interested, I applied in early 2018, on January,” Uthie explained.
The student who comes from Purworejo is started to get interested in Sahabat Kapas because this foundation often visited Children Correctional Institution (Lembaga Pembinaan Khusus Anak – LPKA) Kutoarjo located in Purworejo. From this, she wanted to know more about Sahabat Kapas and its role, which prompted her to join the foundation during her internship.
Sahabat Kapas has three main programs, social rehabilitation, promotion of children’s rights, and Sahabat Kapas social enterprise. Uthie joined the children companion volunteer which is scheduled for once every two weeks on Saturday. Sahabat Kapas has programs in several places such as LPKA Kutoarjo (Uthie internship and volunteering place), Solo Prison, Klaten Prison, and LPKA Wonosari in Yogyakarta. Usually, to reach LPKA Kutoarjo, Uthie have to wake up early in the morning to catch the train.
In the pandemic, Sahabat Kapas activities were implemented through online media except for some activities that are possible to be held offline by implementing tight health protocol. These activities are, for example, online counseling for children in LPKA and those who have released from the institution. The foundation also conducted advocation school for adolescence, Central Java Children Forum, and assistance for several communities that work surrounding children and women issues, and Solo Children Forum. The foundation also raised awareness on gender-based violence and children related issues in Kapas Instagram live stream. Recently, Uthie mentioned, the foundation just launched photostory in Sahabat Kapas website.
Through this awareness, Uthie realized the importance of humanizing humans, and do not view a problem from one point of view before judging. “I quoted Mbak Dian, the owner of Sahabat Kapas, children offenders are also victims, victims of their environment, family, or friends. This does not nullify their mistake, but we learn how to humanize a human,” Uthie concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
