Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has carried out a community service initiative by empowering the socio-economic conditions of rural communities living around the Special Purpose Forest Areas (KHDTK) in Blora Regency, Central Java, and Ngawi Regency, East Java.
This community empowerment program, based on a circular economy approach, is the result of a collaboration between the Pertamina Foundation, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), and UGM.
The program has been running for five months, from January to May 2025.
During a working visit to KHDTK Ngawi, which also marked the closing of the circular economy program, UGM Vice-Rector Dr. Arie Sujito symbolically handed over livestock assistance to three farming groups at the Pitu Village Hall, Getas District, Ngawi Regency, on Friday, May 23, 2025.
A total of 42 sheep were distributed to two groups from Pitu Village, Pertagama Jagawana, and Gemah Ripah.
Another 42 sheep were provided to the Tani Renes Sheep Group in Mendenrejo Village, Blora Regency.
In his remarks, Vice-Rector Sujito welcomed the empowerment activities and expressed appreciation for the training programs, supporting local businesses, household waste management initiatives that convert waste into value-added products, and the formation of community business groups based on local potential and sustainability principles.
“UGM extends its gratitude to the Pertamina Foundation for supporting this initiative. This is our effort to empower communities and demonstrate UGM’s commitment, with village governments, to transform villages into centers of economic growth and food security,” he said.
He emphasized that UGM remains open to collaborations and hopes that such empowerment programs will continue in the future.
He noted that cooperation between villages and groups is essential in efforts to reduce poverty.
“This empowerment initiative around KHDTK aims to improve the communities’ economic condition, promote economic self-reliance, and preserve forests and the natural environment,” he added.
Secretary of the Directorate of Community Service, Dr. Djarot Heru Santoso, expressed his hope that this ongoing collaboration would be maintained and further developed.
As such, one of UGM’s next steps will be to provide continued support by deploying students through the university’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) in the area.
“We will deploy KKN-PPM students here for 50 days, from June 20 to August 8, 2025. Students can assist with the online marketing of local batik products. A total of 30 students will be assigned to two villages in Pitu District,” he explained.
A similar hope was expressed by Diofandy from the Pertamina Foundation.
He hopes the program will foster community independence and long-term sustainability.
“I sincerely hope that UGM will assign KKN students to the areas where assistance has been provided so they can support and sustain these community empowerment programs,” he said.
Vice-Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni at Fisipol UGM, Dr. Fina Itriyati, stated that the success of the collaborative program should not be measured solely by its products, but by the increased capacity of the community members themselves.
“I hope that, through this initiative, networks will also continue to grow, something invaluable that communities can truly benefit from,” she said.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Firsto Adi