UNAIR NEWS – The Three Missions (Tri Dharma) of Higher Education should blossom in students’ hearts. One of the Three Missions students need to hold is the urge to do community service. In accordance with the objective, Universitas Airlangga Bidikmisi Organization held a Community Service Camp in Gegunungan Hamlet, Mulyoagung Village, Singgahan Sub-district, Tuban Regency.

A number of community services were presented by the students on the past 22-27 January. Besides aiming to serve the community, this event also functioned as a media for the students to get to know themselves, and realize that they finally will plunge back into the society.

At the opening night, Sunday (22/01), the locals welcomed the Community Service Camp team. Enthusiasm from the locals could be seen by their participation in every activity the students held.

“Although at first we had been worried that there wouldn’t be many locals wanted to come, the enthusiasm from the locals and children became our encouragement to continue the activities on the following days,” said Anif Faricha Mantika of the committee.

Various community service activities were held namely Bidikmisi in Teaching, renovation to the library of Satu Atap Singgahan Elementary & Junior High School, health check-up, teaching how to read Quran at TPQ, education dissemination, competitions, and fitness exercise. Moreover, activities like movie meet-up and hang out also fostered the sense of kinship between Community Service Camp team and the locals. Therefore, the locals could deliver their aspirations on numerous things.

Anif explained that students’ activities which are oriented to the community in Gegunungan Hamlet are still low in intensity; whereas the people there are highly in need of students’ active role. For example, in terms of hygiene, the rate of knowledge and concern about household sanitation is relatively low. Moreover, the people are not entirely reached by government programs. This is shown by the minimum ownership of BPJS.

“We are hoping that students, especially Bidikmisi students get the chance to serve and be beneficial for the community. Bidikmisi students are able to study at college because of the people’s money so they are supposed to bring it back to the people,” said Muhammad Nur Syamsi, Project Organizer of the Community Service Camp. (*)

Author: Siti Nur Umami
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh