YOGYAKARTA-There are always ideas and creativity from UGM students. This time by taking the momentum of Kartini Day and Earth Day, students of KKN PPM UGM Unit 2 held a drawing and coloring competition. The activities invited Wildlife Conservation Forum, taking place in Merapi Volcano Museum, Hargobinangun, Sleman.
"Drawing and coloring of animals competition is expected to introduce and foster children’s love for wildlife and ecosystem of Mount Merapi and surrounding environment in the spirit of togetherness and equality in society," said committee chairman, Setyo Yudhanto, Saturday (23/4).
Yudhanto explained, coloring of animal and Mount Merapi contest is for kindergarten and first grade of elementary school students. Meanwhile, animal drawing contest is for second and third graders of elementary school. Also, Yudhanto added, there were other activities to enliven the event, including fable telling, the introduction of animals, poetry reading contest for elementary students in grades 4 and 5, performing arts, and giving books to children.
"In addition to introducing and fostering love to the environment and wildlife, this event is also expected to reduce the impact of trauma, particularly in children in Hargobinangun which was affected by Merapi eruption," said the student of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Meanwhile, event public relations officer, Asiah, said that due to the Merapi eruption some time ago, the communities around Mount Merapi feel the worst impact of the eruption, including wildlife migration to save themselves. One of the affected regions is Hargobinangun village. Up to now, the effect of eruption in the form of trauma is still felt by the villagers of Hargobinangun, although in relatively low levels. Therefore, efforts to restore public confidence, especially among children, need to continue.
"The picture of ecosystem and the beauty of Mount Merapi have to be grown as part of trauma healing in children. The media that is easy to understand by these children is through coloring and drawing of animals contest and ecosystems of Merapi," Asiah said.
Enthusiasm of Hargobinangun children was quite high as seen from the number of participants who followed the contest. It was noted that there are 40 students following the drawing contest, 50 students in the coloring contest, and 32 children in poetry reading contest. At the end of the event, to strengthen the process of recognition and foster love of animals, a collection of animals was introduced directly in the form of reptiles and amphibians to these children.