In the past two years, the UGM Vocational College (SV UGM) has conducted community service activities in the Kulon Progo Regency area, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).
The SV UGM academic community has implemented programs to improve residents’ economic welfare and reduce poverty rates.
Some programs include IT training, tourism potential development training, providing production machinery for the community, grassroots economic development, and waste management.
Vice Dean for Research and Community Service, Dr. Wiryanta, reported that over the past two years, SV UGM has contributed to reducing poverty and improving the quality of economic growth in Kulon Progo.
“We have carried out community service in 11 villages in Kulon Progo, identified as areas with extreme poverty,” said Dr. Wiryanta during the 2024 National Seminar on Community Service Results (SNH2PM) and Service Expo themed “Innovation for Poverty Reduction and Regional Economic Growth,” Saturday (Nov. 9).
Dr. Wiryanta mentioned that a budget of Rp 1 billion was allocated to carry out the programs in the 11 villages.
“A total of Rp 1,010,000,000 has been disbursed, and 75% of SV UGM’s community service this year took place in Kulon Progo,” Dr. Wiryanta added.
Dean of SV UGM, Professor Agus Maryono, explained that the community service programs aimed to solve social and economic problems in Kulon Progo.
“For example, we assisted the community in creating simple rainwater harvesting systems to address drought issues,” he said.
Professor Maryono added that they also helped the community innovate on MSME products and strengthen business management, mainly targeting the youth.
According to him, SV UGM’s programs align with the new government’s initiatives, such as food self-sufficiency, clean water provision, poverty eradication, and education and health services.
Triyono, from the Secretariat of Kulon Progo Regency, expressed his appreciation for SV UGM’s significant contributions to Kulon Progo’s progress.
He said that this contribution has motivated the government to investigate the technologies developed by SV UGM and apply them to help the community.
Moreover, Triyono also appreciated the presence of UGM’s Field Research Center (FRC) building. He hoped that the building would drive the local economy with the presence of UGM students in Kulon Progo.
During the seminar, Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti, the Head of DIY’s Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), mentioned that the poverty rate in DIY has been trending downward each year.
“Data shows the government’s excellent performance in reducing extreme poverty from 2.63% in 2021 to 0.85% in 2024,” said Indrayanti.
The government has implemented several strategies to eradicate extreme poverty, including reducing expenditure burdens, increasing productivity and income, and minimizing poverty-stricken areas.
Author: Lazuardi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif