UGM KKN PPM students held the Menoreh Mandeh Festival to conclude their community service program series in Nagari Mandeh and Nagari Sungai Nyalo on Friday (Aug. 1) at Paku Beach, Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra.
The closing of the KKN event series was symbolically marked by the lighting of a torch by the team’s field supervising lecturer (DPL), Professor Deendarlianto, along with the Regional Secretary of Pesisir Selatan Regency, Mawardi Roska.
This year’s festival series included an exhibition of various work program results from the UGM KKN team.
These included tea products from processed karamunting leaves, batik crafts from natural gambir dye, and jam, syrup, and juice products from nipah processing.
There were also fish floss from skipjack tuna. Besides the mini expo, traditional dance performances and music performances were also featured.
Professor Deendarlianto mentioned that this was the first time UGM KKN students were deployed in Mandeh.
The program will run for the next three years, hoping to encourage Mandeh as a sustainable tourism area.
“The Mandeh tourist area is a new tourist destination and the second tourist destination after Bukittinggi. We want Mandeh to become a sustainable tourist area. The presence of KKN students can boost the capacity development of the community and MSMEs,” Professor Deendarlianto said.
Besides tourism development, Professor Deendarlianto said, the KKN PPM work program in the second year is directed at renewable energy development and increasing food security.
“The energy and food security development programs can continue in the second and third years,” he explained.
The Regional Secretary of Pesisir Selatan, Mawardi Roska, expressed appreciation and gratitude to UGM for choosing the Mandeh and Sungai Nyalo areas as the location for the KKN program.
Roska hopes the student KKN activities can continue in the coming years.
Roska also mentioned the coral reef planting program, which he believes maintains the marine ecosystem to prevent damage.
“In a year, coral reefs will grow, at most about 3 cm in a year, so we need to protect them to build harmony with nature,” he said.
Representative of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN), Krisdyan Widagdo Adhi, or affectionately known as Dodo, said that his company always supports student KKN activities in solving community problems.
“KKN students learn to provide real solutions for the community. Mandeh’s potential from its beaches and culture can become a major destination, thus increasing the residents’ economy,” Dodo said.
PGN, as a state-owned company, Dodo said, is committed to supporting the education, environment, and MSME programs carried out by UGM KKN PPM students.
“We are ready to collaborate as long as we can provide benefits and solutions. In the future, we can become a beneficial partner, especially for Indonesia,” Dodo stated.
Coordinator of the UGM KKN PPM Mandeh Menoreh Unit, Raditya Affandi, said that various work programs carried out could run smoothly thanks to support from village officials, youth, and the community.
“We thank the village officials and all layers of youth who have accepted and guided us to learn and have patiently accompanied us throughout these KKN activities,” Affandi concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Donnie