The UGM Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) Merintis Rainis 2025 team, currently undertaking their community empowerment in Alo Village, Rainis District, Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, recently experienced a momentous day.
On Tuesday (Jul. 7), the KKN-PPM team took part in a traditional groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a resident’s house; a local custom rich with cultural meaning and showcasing the deep synergy between the community, religion, tradition, and local government.
The groundbreaking ceremony is more than a symbolic initiation of home construction; it reflects the spirit of cooperation (gotong royong) and community solidarity.
Nearly one hundred residents of Alo Village came together to lay stones, mix cement, and arrange steel bars to build the house’s foundation, all within a single day. The community only carries out this collective effort on the first day of construction, after which the appointed workers continue the building process.
“The community synergy in Alo Village is incredibly strong. For this groundbreaking event alone, nearly 100 residents put aside their daily routines to gather and contribute,” said Nabil, a team member, on Friday (Jul. 11).
The experience also served as a valuable learning opportunity for the students. For those assigned to 3T regions (underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost areas), direct involvement in local traditions offers a unique insight into social dynamics and indigenous wisdom.
The knowledge gained in university is applied in real-world contexts while students absorb the values upheld by the community.
The ceremony began with a communal prayer as an expression of spiritual reflection.
The religious pillar marked the start of the event, with prayers and blessings led by a local pastor. Prayers were offered for the smooth progress of the construction and the safety and prosperity of the future occupants.
“The religious pillar is always central in community activities, reflecting faith and devotion to God in every aspect of life,” the pastor explained to the student team.
Following the prayer, the ceremony continued with a cultural segment that honored the ancestors and upheld tradition. A traditional elder, or inanga banua, delivered a speech in the local Talaud language (Taroda), conveying hopes and blessings for the construction process and the family’s future well-being.
The final pillar, governance, was represented by village officials, who formally authorized the construction and ensured it aligned with village regulations.
Nabil explained that the three pillars each play a distinct role in a specific order, culminating in the community working together to build the house throughout the day.
“We learned that this tradition not only strengthens social ties among residents but also highlights the importance of cross-sector collaboration in community life,” he said.
Through their participation in this event, the Merintis Rainis team also discovered that community development goes beyond building physical infrastructure. It involves understanding and nurturing the social and cultural values that are deeply embedded within the community.
“We, as students, learned that social values and community synergy mean interacting with others and recognizing how each individual contributes to shaping social harmony in daily life,” Nabil concluded.
Reporter: UGM KKN-PPM Merintis Rainis 2025/Nanda Ishaqi
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Anisa Nurliana
Photographs: UGM KKN-PPM Merintis Rainis 2025