Community service activities are integral to the tri-dharma of higher education. Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) stands out for its emphasis on KKN activities.
The UGM Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) during the fourth period of 2023 took place from Dec. 18, 2023, to Feb. 5, 2024, reaching various corners of Indonesia.
Among the 2023 teams was South Konawe Unit SG-008, led by field supervisor Eko Tri Sulistyani. This team engaged in community service in Namu Village, Laonti District, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.
Sherly Rayhan Sinta Putri from the Animal Science and Industry Program led one of this team’s standout projects. Sherly focused on guiding and training the mothers in Namu Village to craft fried fish meatballs (basreng), a beloved snack enjoyed by people of all ages.
Sherly’s objective in this program was to contribute to the self-sufficiency and economic upliftment of the villagers in Namu.
Given that most residents of Namu Village work as fishermen, either selling their catch to collectors or for personal consumption, Sherly proposed a strategy to boost the community’s economy by processing freshly caught fish to increase its value.
Moreover, Sherly suggested that diversifying fish products into fried fish meatballs could also serve as unique souvenirs for tourists visiting Namu Village, considering its status as a renowned tourist spot in Southeast Sulawesi.
Thus, a comprehensive program was designed to educate and train micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) on producing fish-based fried meatballs.
The initiative started with distributing informative leaflets detailing operational procedures and recipes for creating basreng from fish. During this phase, fundamental insights were shared on establishing an MSME, mainly aimed at the women of Namu Village.
Subsequently, hands-on training sessions were conducted, focusing on the art of crafting fish-based fried meatballs. The ultimate aim is to continuously evolve and innovate the production and marketing of fish-based fried meatballs to captivate tourists’ attention.
Author: South Konawe Team