The Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Professor Ova Emilia, officially sent off the KKN-PPM Disaster Response Team for Sumatra at the UGM Balairung on Friday (Jan. 30).
The send-off ceremony was symbolically marked by the presentation of KKN attributes, name tags, and caps to the two unit team leaders.
Dewarta Bagus Bagaskara was appointed head of the unit assigned to Geudumbak Village, Langkahan, North Aceh, while Laurencia Lintang Arum Purbasari Harjanto led the unit assigned to Mayang Cut Village, Meureudu, Pidie Jaya.
Rector Emilia reminded all KKN-PPM students to maintain their health during the program, strengthen empathy, and support one another.
According to her, the 30 students selected to participate in the KKN-PPM Disaster Response team were resilient, had strong academic capacity, and demonstrated high empathy, meeting the criteria to assist communities affected by disasters.
“Remind one another and help each other, because in distant places, friends become our family. We all pray for the health and safety of the students,” she said.
UGM Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni, Dr. Arie Sujito, stated that students participating in the KKN-PPM Disaster Response team could implement humanitarian actions together with disaster-affected survivors.
The program’s focus includes providing clean water and strengthening social and economic life in post-disaster conditions.
“We make this program a space to enhance humanitarian values,” he explained.
He also advised all students to look after one another and strengthen solidarity throughout the process of assisting affected communities. Student mentality, he emphasized, is a crucial factor in supporting community recovery through creativity, integrity, and care.
“Maintain communication with supervisors, take care of your health and safety, and uphold teamwork. Depart in good health and safety, and return home in good health and safety as well,” he said.
Secretary of the Directorate of Community Service, Dr. Djarot Heru Santosa, reported that the directorate had coordinated with the Central Board of the UGM Alumni Family (PP Kagama) and the Aceh Regional Board of Kagama.
This coordination aims to enhance the effectiveness of the KKN-PPM Disaster Response team implementation and ensure student safety. The community service initiative will be followed by a regular KKN-PPM program scheduled from June to August.
“This KKN-PPM will be followed by a regular KKN. We have proposed priority locations in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh to ensure sustainability,” he said.
For information, a total of 30 students from 10 faculties and one school at Universitas Gadjah Mada, divided into two units, will be deployed to Pidie Jaya Regency and North Aceh Regency from Jan. 31 to Mar. 1, 2026.
The deployment of the KKN-PPM Sumatra Disaster Response team in 2026 reflects UGM’s commitment to addressing post-disaster conditions through community service.
Before deployment, Dr. Santosa explained that the students had received preparatory training related to their main tasks at the disaster sites.
The training covered the construction of temporary shelters (Huntara), sanitation, energy, electricity provision, and psychosocial support. The two-day briefing is expected to sufficiently assist affected communities, particularly in North Aceh and Pidie Jaya regencies.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Firsto Adi