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| UMM DPPM fosters residents of Gading Kasri, Klojen, Malang (Photo: Istimewa) |
Despite to education, teaching, and research, community service is also part of the Tri Dharma of higher education. This was also carried out by a team of lecturers from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) consisting of Dra. Arfida Boedirochminarni, M.S., Happy Febrina Hariyani, SP., M.Sc., and Dr. Ratih Juliati, M.Si. Through the Internal Community Partnership Program (PKMI) of the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) at UMM, they developed the community in RW 02, Gading Kasri Village, Klojen District, Malang City. Interestingly, they have become supervisor for Gading Kasri Village representing Malang City and have now entered the top four provincial-level urban village competitions in 2021.
While interviewed, Arfida said that the mentoring had actually been going on since 2014 and was being carried out in stages. Several times they provided material and assistance, and even invited residents to conduct comparative studies at UMM and several other cities. In addition, it also reorganized the structure, organizational management, and knowledge about taxes. The team also guides residents to make TIN and develop the creativity of potential MSME products.
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Arfida continued, starting from a long process, finally the RW and MSMEs assisted by UMM lecturers could help sub-districts become representatives of Malang City in the East Java level competition and are now fighting for the champion. Thanks to this achievement, the village finally took the initiative to make Gading Kasri an Entrepreneurial Village. "The village also wants this to be transmitted to other RT and RW," she explained.
Meanwhile, in June, the UMM lecturer team invited PMM students to re-develop new MSME products. They plan to encourage residents to make jelly candy which will be marketed more widely.
Arfida admitted that during the seven years of mentoring, the development of the Creative UMKM Village showed an increase in independence. This is evidenced by the creative products produced, such as the utilization of plastic waste into accessories for wallets, flowers, and even hair clips. There are also culinary products that are starting to develop, namely soy milk and jelly candy.
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"All these results cannot be separated from the good cooperation between the UMM lecturer team, local residents, the villagers and also PMM Students who have helped a lot," she explained.
Finally, Arfida hopes that this service and mentoring program can continue so that it can provide more benefits to the community. “We also want similar developments to be carried out in other areas that have potential. That way, more and more community groups can be independent with their programs and activities,” she explained. (haq/wil/nain)
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