Student Community Service in Davao Returns with New Face
Every year, Student Community Service (KKN) is regularly conducted as part of UMY’s commitment to the community through community service. UMY offered various programs of student community service and one of them is the international student community service program (KKN Internasional). This year, KKN International will be held in Malaysia and the Philippines. KKN International in the Philippines will take place in Davao City, General Santos, Glan, and Laensasi in the southern of the Philippines. KKN International in Davao is returning after being postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Aris Slamet Widodo, Head of Student Community Service Division of UMY said “The goal of the program, which was organized in partnership between UMY and the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City is to assist Indonesian descent residents in Davao with obtaining citizenship documents. Also, to help strengthen their nationalism by introducing Indonesian culture and using the Indonesian language.”
This year, the program is conducted slightly differently than in previous years. According to Idham Badruzaman, Coordinator of the PTMA International Community Service Program, “The program is returning in an even better format with participants not only from International Relations and UMY students but also from 5 Muhammadiyah ‘Aisyiyah Universities (PTMA) across Indonesia. Our spirit to help thousands of Indonesian descents in Davao will continue to run regularly every year.”
A total of 35 students from various PTMA, including Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA, Universitas Muhammadiyah Bangka Belitung, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, and Pharmacy Vocational School of Cirebon will participate in the program, which runs from August 8 to September 3.
With this program resuming this year, the Head of the Cooperation and International Affairs UMY Fitri Arofiati expressed her hope for the program to develop further in various aspects. “Hopefully, the program will be improved to collaborate with local universities and contribute to the local community. In addition, the variety of community activities must also be enhanced to put the research’s findings into implementation