The National Student Community Service Program (KKN Kebangsaan), initiated by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs under the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology since 2013, has now entered its eleventh year. This year, Tanjungpura University in West Kalimantan had the honor of hosting the program. The program’s focus was on the Sambas and Bengkayang districts, near the Indonesia-Malaysia border, from July 20th to August 20th, 2023.

Eight UPI students from various faculties were selected after undergoing administrative selection and interviews. They were placed in three sub-districts in Sambas: Paloh, Jawai, and Teluk Keramat. The aim of KKN Kebangsaan is to build a network of students from all over Indonesia with the spirit of “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity).

The KKN Kebangsaan program commenced with an opening ceremony at Tanjungpura University, Pontianak. During this event, students received guidance on national values before being deployed to their respective locations.
Here are the tasks of each delegate:

1. Aulia Rahmad Lubis (Geography Education/FPIPS) served in Kalimantan Village, Paloh Sub-District, by creating a mapping of facilities in Kalimantan Village and establishing a Village Website to disseminate the village’s potential. Additionally, they managed plastic waste recycling into ecobricks, which were used to create informative gateways along the beach to assist visitors.
2. Marliana Nur Hasanah (Arabic Language Education/FPBS) in Teluk Kembang Village, Teluk Keramat Sub-District, focused on educational projects. They revitalized teaching at TPA al-Muttaqin to enhance the quality of religious education for school-aged children. They also partnered with SD 12 Sange Mangge to revitalize the school’s library, promoting literacy, and provided teaching assistance to improve the learning process, aligning it with national educational developments. The local government showed a positive response to the program’s implementation.
3. Muhammad Akbar (Automotive Engineering Education/FPTK) in Pipit Teja Village, Teluk Keramat Sub-District, developed a Village Website to improve the Village Development Index (IDM) of Pipit Teja. The website served as a platform to showcase achievements, village performance, and information about local SME products to a wider audience, not just within Teluk Keramat Sub-District but nationally as well.
4. Nadisah Khairani Nasution (Biology Education/FPMIPA) in Malek Village, Paloh Sub-District, focused on improving language proficiency among children. They initiated multilingual teaching based on the mother tongue at SDN 06 Malek to enhance students’ understanding and confidence in using the Indonesian language for learning. The program also included informal education on self-development, oral hygiene, body awareness through height and weight measurements, and understanding the concept of a balanced nutritious diet.
5. Safitri Maharani (Library and Information Science/FIP) aimed to empower the youth in Sarang Burung Danau, Jawai Sub-District, through a Skill Up Programme to prepare them for future career planning. They also innovated the utilization of seashell waste into valuable art and economic crafts and assisted in creating various processed dragon fruit products to improve the economic well-being of the community by optimizing the natural resources of the village.
6. Shalsa Khoerun Nisa (Dance Art Education/FPSD) worked on enhancing Calistung (reading, writing, and arithmetic) skills among primary school students in Kubangga Village, Teluk Keramat Sub-District. They organized a “Kubangga Mengajar” tutorial program attended by primary and secondary school students, with approximately 80 participants.
7. Raden Ayu Sekar (PGSD Elementary School Education/Sumedang Campus) in Matang Segantar Village, Teluk Keramat Sub-District, initiated an education and teaching program. Focusing on Calistung (reading, writing, and arithmetic), they utilized an educative and interactive teaching method in the “Kelas Alam” (Nature Class). The program aimed to boost student motivation and Calistung skills. They also transformed plastic waste into EcoBricks through the “Matang Segantar” project. Additionally, based on local agricultural potential, they created the “One Village, One Product” program using peanuts, known as “MungBeans Milk.” These initiatives received positive recognition from the local community.
8. Winda Amalia (Physical Education in Elementary School/FPOK) conducted hygiene and health awareness programs at schools in Sengawang Village, Teluk Keramat Sub-District. The targeted schools included PAUD Sepakat, PAUD Kasih Ibu, SDN 03 Sengawang, and SDN 41 Sengawang Sentul. They also conveyed the importance of Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) to parents for implementation at home.

Throughout the program, various innovations were implemented by the students, such as the development of eco-tourism villages, poverty alleviation, stunting prevention, and more. Through these activities, the students not only applied their academic knowledge but also made a positive impact on the local communities. Some of them received recognition for their innovative contributions.