UNS – Leaders from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, represented by the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni, Prof. Ir. Dody Ariawan, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., and the Director of the Directorate of Academic Reputation and Student Affairs (DRAK), Dr. Sutanto, S.Si., DEA., carried out monitoring of the Student Community Service Program (KKN) for the July-August 2024 period in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The monitoring took place on Monday (19/8/2024), covering six hamlets across two villages where UNS students are conducting their KKN activities.

During the visit, Prof. Dody also announced that UNS students stationed in the six hamlets of North Lombok would soon conclude their KKN activities. The hamlets include Amor-Amor, Gumantar, Dasantereng, and Adat Beleq, all located in Gumantar Village, Kayangan District. Additionally, students are active in Senara and Penjor hamlets in Genggelang Village, Gangga District.

Upon arriving in Gumantar Hamlet, the UNS delegation was warmly welcomed by Gumantar Village Head, Japarti. Representatives from each student group in Gumantar Village presented the programs they have implemented during their 45-day stay. Rafi Himawan, a representative from KKN UNS Group 106 in Gumantar Hamlet, expressed that the community’s reception was very positive. The students engaged in various activities with the locals, including producing organic fertilizer from cow manure, offering free health check-ups, promoting cleanliness by providing trash bins, delivering financial education, raising awareness about stunting, training micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to go digital, teaching sports at SD N 2 Gumantar, introducing baseball, and donating sports equipment such as volleyball nets.

Vania Nissapuspita, representing KKN UNS Group 103 in Amor-Amor Hamlet, shared that before implementing their programs, the group made efforts to build rapport with the residents. They organized activities to foster closeness with the community. “The village head advised us to make the residents feel comfortable and friendly first. So we did, often cooking together with the residents at the KKN post,” Vania said.

Following this, the group outlined their work programs. In Amor-Amor Hamlet, they offered free health check-ups, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests, and provided health consultations. They also revitalized the mosque, organized morning exercise sessions, trained MSMEs to go digital, taught early childhood education (PAUD) and elementary school students, provided English lessons for young children, and conducted awareness campaigns on the impact of early marriage.

KKN UNS Group 101 in Dasantereng Hamlet also implemented programs for the community. They educated residents about stunting, taught at Islamic boarding schools, helped children in Dasantereng Hamlet learn reading, writing, arithmetic, and English, created village notice boards, and renovated public restrooms. Additionally, Group 101 focused on enhancing the economic value of local agricultural products, such as cashew apples, which are typically only used for their nuts. They demonstrated how cashew apples could be turned into high-value products like sambal, shredded cashew apple, and syrup. The hope is that these innovations will continue after the KKN team returns to Solo, boosting the local economy.

Gumantar Village Head, Japarti, expressed his gratitude to the KKN students for their dedication and service to the village. “I hope the programs provided by the students benefit the residents. As Village Head, I also hope the children here are motivated to become like the university students, with a strong desire to pursue higher education,” Japarti said.

Japarti also thanked Prof. Dody and his team for their attention to Gumantar Village. “UNS and Gumantar have a deep connection because, during the past earthquake, UNS provided significant assistance, including building a mosque in Gumantar that still stands today and serves the community’s religious needs,” he added.

Prof. Ir. Dody Ariawan, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni, who was present in Gumantar Village, thanked the residents for warmly welcoming the UNS KKN students. “In addition to learning about the programs the students have carried out, we also want to bid farewell, as the students must return to Solo to continue their studies. They will leave for Solo on August 23. We apologize if our students have made any mistakes during their time in Gumantar,” Prof. Dody said.

He expressed hope that in the future, UNS would send even more students for KKN. “And, of course, I hope Gumantar Village continues to progress and develop,” he concluded.

HUMAS UNS

Reporter: Dwi Hastuti