Vice President of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Boediono, releases 4217 student for UGM Community Empowerment Program Field Practice (KKN PPM) on Thursday (16/6) at Graha Sabha Pramana. The event was also attended by Minister of National Education, Prof. Dr. M. Nuh, Minister of Public Works Dr. (HC) Ir. Djoko Kirmanto, State Minister for Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Helmy Faisal Zaini, Minister of Forestry, Zulkifli Hasan, Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, and the Governor of Central Java, Bibit Waluyo.
In his speech, he said the younger generation has an important role in holding the baton of nation leadership in the future. Therefore, Boediono hopes young people have more creativity in creating new and useful things for the community. "In order for the nation to progress, this generation must have creativities to create something, rather than brawling with each other," he said.
Boediono added that the progress of a nation depends on the quality of present and future generation. He is optimistic that the current generation has the reliable quality and capability, thus, able to lead the nation better than it is today. However, the nation’s leadership regeneration needs to be protected so this nation will not sink into a deeper abyss. "The next generation should have a better quality than previous generations. Otherwise, the nation will stagnate," he said.
Boediono said he appreciates the idealism of youth, moreover implemented in the community through the KKN PPM. "Idealism of our students is incredible. Who says Indonesian youth has lost their idealism? That's not true," he added.
Toward thousands of students who are ready to be deployed in remote areas in Indonesia, Boediono asked them to listen and gather information submitted by the community more. Of all the incoming information, students are expected to provide solutions to the problems. "To all students who will go to the battlefield, I ask you to do the task your best to learn about a better life," said Boediono before closing his speech.
Sri Sultan Hamengkubowo X said the KKN PPM program is the idea of the late Prof. Dr. Koesnadi 40 years ago. The KKN activities are expected to be able to implement the mutual empathy, compassion, and caring among students and the community. "Through the KKN, the big family of UGM is expected to be able to continue to empathize with the people in accordance with the values of democracy, nationalism, and patriotism imbued by the spirit of Gadjah Mada," he said.
Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D said that every year UGM fielded approximately 6,000 students to participate in the KKN PPM. For this year, at least 60 foreign students from various countries also take part in this community service. “In the next five years, we expect 1,200 people will be successfully empowered in 100 districts or 25 percent of all districts," he said.
The student deployment ceremony was marked by the embedding of cap by the vice president to two field supervisors and four students, two of them are foreign students from Australia and Malaysia.