To embody one of the three principles of higher education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi), Student Executive Board of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (BEM FISIPOL) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) carried out community service in Kadisoro Youth Forum. The community service was a Community Empowerment Grant Program (PHBD), a program for a student organization funded by Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education to empower a community.

The PHBD has been conducted since June 2017 and will end in December 2017. Members of BEM FISIPOL of UMY engaging in the program were eight students, namely Gema Ramadhan (a Governmental Study student of batch 2015), Irwan (a Governmental Study student of batch 2015), Aris Munandar (a Governmental Study student of batch 2015), Dicky Ademaputra (a Governmental Study student of batch 2015), Fitriani Nengsi (an International Relations student of batch 2015), Muhammad Amar Hidayahtullo (an International Relations student of batch 2015), Rizki Azkia (a Governmental Study student of batch 2015), and Siti Syarifah Nur’aini (a Communication Science student of batch 2015).

Kadisoro is a village in Pandak, Bantul possessing potential of ornamental fish which can most likely improve people welfare. “Unfortunately, few people recognize the potential. Kadisoro, in fact, has a community concerning with ornamental fish, namely ‘Kelompok Ikan Hias Buana Mina’ (Ornamental Fish Farming Association of Buana Mina). Thus, through this community service BEM FISIPOL of UMY would like to enhance Kadisoro people’s awareness of the potential,” told Gema Ramadhan, a Governmental Study student of batch 2015 as well as a member of the PHBD BEM BISIPOL of UMY 2017, when interviewed on Saturday (14/10).

“We acts as a facilitator to link the Ornamental Fish Farming Association of Buana Mina and the Kadisoro Youth Forum. The group will tell the youth forum how to leverage the ornamental fish potential so that Kadisoro people can contribute to fostering creative economy industries in the village,” he stated.

Besides, BEM FISIPOL of UMY carried out a field trip to another ornamental fish farming association. “Buana Mina is the best ornamental farming association but a comparative study to another association to raise the youth’s interest and curiosity. After this program, we will promote economic management as a sustainable program to achieve a goal to be a tourism place as suggested by our supervisor, Mrs. Ratih Herningtyas, S.IP., M.A.,” he asserted.