UNAIR NEWS – As part of efforts to strengthen early childhood education, students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) participating in the seventh Learning with Community (BBK) program organized an educational initiative titled “My Aspirations, My Dreams.” The activity was held at SDN 1 Karangdoro in Tegalsari Subdistrict, Banyuwangi Regency, on Monday (January 12, 2026), and was aimed at second-grade elementary students through a painting-based learning approach.
Creating space for children’s expression
The program coordinator, Naswa Thalita Zada, said the activity was designed to introduce children to the importance of having aspirations from an early age. She explained that the program also created an open space for students to express their imagination and emotions through art.
“Second-grade students have very broad imaginations, but they often do not know how to express them. Through this painting activity, we want to help turn those ideas into something visible, rather than leaving them unspoken,” Zada said.
During the activity, students illustrated their future dreams on drawing paper using watercolors and brushes. According to Zada, some children were able to work independently, while others required examples or guidance from the BBK team to match their chosen aspirations.
She added that the activity received a strong response from participants, many of whom were experiencing watercolor painting for the first time. “They were very enthusiastic and fully engaged. For most of them, this was their first time joining an activity like this, and some even hoped it could be repeated. It was also their first experience using watercolors,” she said.
Advancing SDG 4: Quality Education
In addition to encouraging visual creativity, the program was intended to strengthen communication skills and build confidence in expressing thoughts and feelings. “We encouraged them to directly paint whatever they were thinking about or unsure of,” Zada explained.
At the end of the session, each student was invited to come forward and explain their artwork and the aspirations behind it. “We initially did not expect all of them to speak up, but in the end, every child was brave enough to share their dreams,” she said.
The BBK initiative led by Zada and her team aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4, which focuses on improving the quality of education through early learning. Despite challenges related to differing student personalities in each class, the team adopted a persuasive and supportive approach by providing close guidance and maintaining light, friendly communication.
Looking ahead, Zada said she hopes similar programs can continue, using a variety of creative media in collaboration with school teachers. “We hope the children remain motivated to pursue the dreams they have painted and that their imagination continues to grow,” she concluded.
Author: Nur Khovivatul Mukorrobah
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
