Twelve students of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) perform an international community service in Tawau, Negeri Bagian Sabah, Malaysia. The opening of the community service was officially announced by Rector of UMY Dr. Ir. Gunawan Budiyanto, M.P. on Sunday (30/7). UMY, in fact, successfully conducted an international community service in Davao, the Philippines.
Rector of UMY expected that the students could succeed undertaking the community service so that there will be other follow-up programs. In the opening, Rector of UMY was accompanied by Head of Research, Publication, and Communication (LP3M) Dr. Ir. Gatot Supangkat, M.P., Vice Dean of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Bambang Wahyu Nugroho, S.IP., M.A., Head of Department of International Relations Dr. Nur Azizah, M.Si., Secretary of Department of International Relations Siti Muslikhati, and Secretary of International Program of International Relations (IPIREL) Dian Azmawati, M.A.
Besides, the twelve students were from Department of International Relations. They were Muhammad Azis Irfanuddin (chief), Sitta Wahyu Qurana (secretary), Nellatika Chairunnisa (secretary) and Amira Dysa Rusyida Larasati, Annisa Rizki Yuniar, Eliestya Kridhaswari, Nabila Zalzabila Lausepa, Tesya Ikrima Mutiara Sukma, Mochammad Ade Pamungkas, Mohammad Irfan Nabil, Vega Bhenazi, and Dhany Putra Pratama as the members. They departed to Tawau on Monday (31/7) and arrived at 8.30 p.m. local time. Their departure was accompanied by Head of Department of International Relations Dr. Nur Azizah, M.Si. and their supervisor Sciences Bambang Wahyu Nugroho, S.IP., M.A.
On a release sent to Public Relations and Protocol Office on Wednesday (2/8), the students will perform the international community service till 27 August 2017. During the community service, they will focus on education and empowerment. “Tawau is an area in where children of Indonesian migrant workers has not gained decent primary education yet. In fact, Ministry of Education and Culture has been cooperating with a Malaysian NGO Humana to establish Community Learning Center (CLC). Thus, the community service will be beneficial to enhance educational services. The students will also empower the community who mostly work in oil palm plantation, and will acquaint Muhammadiyah to them,” told Bambang Wahyu.
He also stated that an Indonesian consul in Tawau Khrisna Djelani warmly welcomed the students who will undertake the community service. “In his speech in a welcoming ceremony on Tuesday (1/8), Mr. Khrisna expected that the community service can initiate other programs. The students are also hoped to be able to assist duties of a consulate of Republic of Indonesia. Since the community service is carried out in August, they are required to organize an event to commemorate the independence day of Indonesia such as training the children of the Indonesian migrant workers selected in a flag-hoisting team of a ceremony on 17 August,” mentioned Bambang.
