In 2018, the Indonesian General Consultant (KJRI) located in Davao, Philippines, listed 8.745 people with Indonesian ancestries within the Mindanao region. These people are still plagued with economical problems and they do not have any residential status. To help solve this problem, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) once again sent 29 students from its International Relations department (HI) to perform social service as a part of their International Social Services (KKN) program to two regions of Davao, namely Glan and Gensa, from the 27th of July to 24th of August 2019.
The rector of UMY, Dr. Ir. Gunawan Budiyanto, M.P, stated that all students in this KKN program are ambassadors of Indonesia and should act accordingly to keep the good name of Indonesia there. “You are a representation of the Indonesian nation, so I must implore you to mind your manners and mannerisms,” He stated during the KKN procession in AR. A Building of UMY Central Campus on Friday (26/7).
Gunawan also hopes that the social services program can contribute to education in Indonesia, namely to explain Davao’s social, economic, and political situations that will be included in future research projects. “One day you will have to create a geopolitical map for our stranded brothers. That task requires extraordinary bravery to reveal what the public do not know,” he added.
The head of the social services team, Fadel Quraysh, clarified that there are two programs he and the members of his team will perform. Those programs are the development of the creative economy and the strengthening of Indonesian ideology. “For this year, we will start a community development program based on our location’s creative economy. In addition, we will also start a program that will aim to introduce Indonesian culture and strengthening their understanding of it,” He stated.
Later in their location, the social services team will teach how to creatively manufacture and market products to be more attractive to potential buyers. In addition to introducing the national culture, the UMY students will also include Islamic studies for muslims in the location. Hopefully, the social services program in Davao will make lighten the burden of its people. (ak)
