Community Empowerment

Appropriate technology intervention for business development of Slondok Aredo in Magelang City

Nugroho Agung Prabowo, Retno Rusdjijati, Tuessi Ari Purnomo — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 10:02:17 +0000

Slondok is a popular snack from Magelang, made from cassava and characterized by its crispy, salty, sweet, and spicy flavors. Despite its popularity, there are a limited number of slondok-producing micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Magelang. One such enterprise, Slondok Aredo, located in Tidar Sawe, still operates with traditional methods in its production process, marketing, and business management. This traditional approach has limited the enterprise's ability to achieve optimal business growth and improve the welfare of its owners. To address these challenges, this community empowerment initiative provides assistance to the MSE through an appropriate technology intervention. Through a combination of socialization, training, hands-on practice, and continuous mentoring, the MSE has implemented several changes that have significantly impacted its business development. These improvements include the adoption of an automatic mixer for the marination process, the use of a sealing machine for product packaging, the creation of a more ergonomic frying furnace, the implementation of a bookkeeping application, and the expansion of marketing efforts through social media. Additionally, the payment system was modernized with the introduction of QRIS for consumer transactions.

Empowering local MSMEs through digital sharia to foster the halal industry in South Kalimantan

Abdul Wahab, M. Qoshid Al Hadi, Auliya Rahman, Ilma Mahdiya — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 10:09:50 +0000

This community service activity was designed to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) using digital sharia principles to support the development of the halal industry in South Kalimantan. The primary target audience was the Indonesian Women Entrepreneurs Association (PERWIRA) of South Kalimantan Province. The program was delivered in a hybrid format, combining both in-person and online sessions to maximize reach and participation. The initiative resulted in a significant increase in the participants' digital sharia literacy. Participants began to adopt digital platforms that align with sharia principles in their business operations and showed a greater interest in the halal industry. Despite these successes, challenges were encountered, particularly related to the limited access to technology and inadequate digital infrastructure, which highlight the need for continuous support to ensure sustainable development. Overall, the activity successfully achieved its objectives and had a positive impact on the local halal industry. By enhancing digital sharia literacy and fostering greater participation among MSMEs, this program has the potential to drive sustainable economic growth in South Kalimantan.

Improving housekeeping competencies at Sandat Living Guest House, Bali

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 14:16:42 +0000

This community partnership program aims to enhance the housekeeping skills of staff at Sandat Living Guest House in Canggu, Bali. The main challenge identified by the owner-manager was the lack of formal education and training in hospitality services, particularly housekeeping, among the staff, including the manager. To address this, the training focused on implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for room cleaning, improving knowledge of cleaning techniques, and ensuring the proper use of equipment and chemicals for both guest rooms and public areas. The training was conducted in three sessions, an initial analysis of existing housekeeping practices, followed by a practical implementation of the new SOPs, and an evaluation. The results demonstrated a significant improvement, with post-test scores showing an average increase of over 80%. This indicates a substantial gain in the staff's knowledge and practical skills. The program not only improved the quality of hospitality services at the guest house but also made a positive contribution to local tourism by enhancing the professional competence of the hospitality staff.

Go digital: Enhancing the capacity of cultural sector SMEs through socialization of government procurement regulations

Agung Nur Probohudono, Djoko Suhardjanto, Bandi Bandi, Jaka Winarna — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 14:46:24 +0000

Cultural-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are crucial for regional economic growth and cultural preservation. However, they often face challenges in adopting technology and participating in government's electronic procurement (e-procurement) of goods and services. This community engagement initiative aimed to address these issues by providing cultural sector SMEs in Surakarta with an understanding of the latest amendments to government procurement regulations. The activity also educated participants on the roles and functions of the online store and electronic catalog within the government procurement system. Our methodology included developing comprehensive socialization materials, creating practical training modules, and facilitating interactive sessions that combined socialization, consultation, and group discussions. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the participants' comprehension of recent procurement regulations and the functions of the online store and electronic catalog. Participants also reported increased confidence in their ability to participate in government procurement processes. This activity successfully enhanced the digital literacy and technical readiness of cultural SMEs to engage with the government's e-procurement ecosystem. By doing so, it has opened new avenues for expanded market access and contributed to regional economic growth.

Promoting the use of fluoride mouthwash as a preventive measure for dental caries among students of SDN 03 Cempaka Putih Barat

Agus Ardinansyah, Nur Hidayati Nosi, Moch Atmaji, Ridhayani Hatta, Ufo Pramigi — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 14:54:08 +0000

This community service aimed to enhance students' understanding of proper dental care and introduce the use of fluoride mouthwash as a preventive measure against dental caries. The program targeted fifth and sixth-grade students at SDN 03 Cempaka Putih Barat, who were identified as being at high risk for tooth decay. Through a series of educational sessions and practical demonstrations, students were taught the correct way to use fluoride mouthwash and the recommended frequency for preventing dental damage. Following the sessions, each student received a sample of fluoride mouthwash for home use and was scheduled to use it regularly at school. An evaluation was conducted three months after the intervention to measure its effectiveness. The evaluation included assessing the students' knowledge of dental health, observing changes in their behavior regarding fluoride mouthwash use, and conducting dental and oral health check-ups. The results showed a significant improvement in the students' knowledge, with the percentage of students understanding the causes of caries and preventive measures, including the regular use of fluoride mouthwash, increasing from 63% to 81%. It is hoped that this activity will be sustained and have a lasting positive impact on the dental health of children at SDN 03 Cempaka Putih Barat.

Empowering farmers through kombucha production: Enhancing knowledge and economy in Ponggok Village

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:04:26 +0000

Star fruit is a major commodity in Ponggok Village, Blitar Regency, East Java. However, a significant portion of the harvest is not optimally utilized and often goes to waste. To address this issue, processing star fruit into kombucha offers a promising solution to create new employment opportunities and improve the economic well-being of the community. This community service program was designed to provide the Lumpang Sewu Farmers Group with comprehensive knowledge on the benefits of star fruit, processing techniques, and the production process of star fruit kombucha. The program was implemented in three stages: preparation, execution, and evaluation. The results of the program were highly successful. Post-training, 100% of the participants were able to recognize kombucha as an innovative, value-added product derived from star fruit. Prior to the intervention, 80% of participants primarily used star fruit as fresh fruit. After the training, all participants demonstrated the potential to process star fruit into higher-value products like kombucha. This success is expected to create new economic opportunities and enhance the competitiveness of star fruit-based health products in the market.

Optimizing nutritional education to improve quality of life in cancer patients

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:16:30 +0000

Cancer remains a major contributor to morbidity and mortality globally. The disease itself and its treatments often lead to significant challenges that negatively impact patients' quality of life. The objective of this community service initiative was to enhance the knowledge and understanding of cancer patients regarding their nutritional needs through a focused educational program. The method employed was a health education approach that included demonstrations. The activity involved 30 cancer patients, all over 18 years of age, who were undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The results showed a significant improvement in the participants' quality of life, specifically in their knowledge and understanding of nutrition. The pre-intervention score of 50% increased to 87.3% post-intervention, representing a 37.3% improvement. This demonstrates that the application of education on nutritional management can effectively improve patients' nutritional status. A good nutritional status is expected to enhance the overall quality of life for cancer patients undergoing medical treatment, as they are better equipped to implement nutritional management strategies in line with their health conditions and medical recommendations.

Enhancing adolescents’ healthy behaviors through nutrition and reproductive health education to prevent stunting at SMP N 1 Gedangsari, Gunungkidul

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:27:17 +0000

Many adolescents pay insufficient attention to their nutritional needs, which increases their risk of developing anemia and chronic energy deficiency (CED). These conditions can elevate the likelihood of giving birth to stunted children in the future. In Yogyakarta, the prevalence of stunting is 18%, with Gunungkidul having the highest rate at 22.2%. Furthermore, Gunungkidul recorded 58 cases of adolescent childbirth, highlighting the urgent need for intervention. This community service activity aimed to enhance adolescents’ awareness and knowledge of reproductive health and nutrition to prevent stunting from an early age. The activity was conducted at SMP N 1 Gedangsari and employed a participatory approach with an educational method. The educational program successfully increased the adolescents’ awareness and knowledge of reproductive health and nutrition as crucial factors in stunting prevention. The interactive and participatory nature of the educational approach showed positive impacts, and it is expected that similar programs can be continued to provide long-term benefits to the community.

Improving teacher competence in supporting students with special needs through psychoeducation

Iftita Rahmi, Hanny Rufaidah Damra, Muhamad Fahrur Rozi, Hanifa Laura Dalimunthe — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:36:36 +0000

Inclusive education in Indonesia continues to face significant challenges, particularly concerning infrastructure and human resources. A key obstacle is the lack of teacher competence in understanding the needs of students with special educational needs (SENs) and developing individualized education programs (IEPs). This deficit hinders the effective implementation of inclusive education in regular schools. The purpose of this community service was to enhance the knowledge and skills of teachers through a psychoeducation and IEP development training program at SDN 04 IX Korong, Solok City. The program consisted of two main activities: first, psychoeducation sessions on the characteristics, identification, and intervention strategies for students with special educational needs; and second, hands-on training to enable teachers to develop appropriate IEPs. The program's effectiveness was evaluated using the Kirkpatrick model, focusing on the reaction and learning levels. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in teacher competence. Post-test scores showed a 90% increase in participants' understanding and ability to identify and intervene with students with SENs. A paired-sample t-test confirmed a statistically significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores (p < 0.005), indicating that the training successfully equipped teachers to manage diverse student needs and foster a more inclusive learning environment. The findings underscore the importance of continuous professional development for teachers to support higher-quality inclusive education at the elementary level, especially in schools lacking dedicated staff for students with special needs.