UNAIR NEWS – The cold lava flood from Mount Semeru that happened some time ago still leaves several tasks to tackle. The disaster that occurred on Thursday, April 18, 2024, damaged the bridge in Gondoruso Village, Pasirian Sub-district, Lumajang Regency. As a result, the route connecting between Liwek Hamlet and Glendang Petung Hamlet was cut off.
Part of Nusantara Module
This incident made students who were members of the Independent Student Exchange (PMM) 4 Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) hold a community service on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Syahrur Marta Dwi Susilo SS MA PhD, Coordinator of the Nusantara Module at UNAIR, said that this event is a routine agenda of PMM.
“Community service is a part of the Nusantara module within the framework of PMM activities. This student exchange goes through four stages, such as diversity, inspiration, reflection and community service,” he said.
Interestingly, the community service this time does not only focus on providing assistance. but also on providing mental healing for disaster casualties. In this community service, PMM participants supported the casualty mental healing so that they are motivated to continue learning. Some of the activities were storytelling, wishing corner, and color trail.
During the storytelling session, the casualities, consisting of children, listened to the inspiring story of Putri Malu. Meanwhile, in the wishing corner, victims had the opportunity to write down their dreams on colorful paper. Then finally, traces of color, depicting hopes and traces of human life which have various colors.
Furthermore, the students had the opportunity to visit the disaster site directly. Even though the terrain was rocky and sandy, it did not dampen the students’ enthusiasm for carrying out community service.
Exploring best experience
Syahrur hoped that PMM 4 participants could gain the best experience in their community service. This aims to ensure that participants can continue their community service to others. “Through this experience, hopefully, students can help solve existing problems within society. So that in the future when they return to their hometowns, they can carry out the same activities,” he explained.
The Head of Gondoruso Village, Maman Suparman expressed his appreciation to UNAIR. He hoped that this community service can be the start of a good relationship. “This agenda is not only assisting but establishing friendship. Hopefully, this activity can be useful for all of us,” he concluded.
Author: Icha Nur Imami Puspita
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
