Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo, a target group for community service by the Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program (Prodi PKP) of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), successfully won second place in The Asia-Pacific Local Leaders Forum for Disaster Resilience (APLL4DR) 2024 in Manila, Philippines, on October 14, 2024. The efforts of Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo, represented by Yustina Wardani, were supported by the Prodi PKP community service team, coordinated by Mesalia Kriska, S.P., M.Sc., mainly through the creation of a profile video showcasing the activities of the group. This video was prepared by Abdurahman Agosto, S.T., and Ishadiyanto Salim, S.Pd., M.Pd., as supporting material for the presentation.
The community service activities at Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo, located in Sidoluhur Village, Godean District, Sleman, Yogyakarta Special Region, took place from September to October 2024. Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo is a self-help group (SHG) that facilitates social rehabilitation and recovery, aiming to assist People with Psychosocial Disabilities (ODDP) in the village to become independent and productive.
“Our discussions with Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo revealed their desire to develop agricultural land called Taksi Kencana (Inclusive Education and Disaster Preparedness Garden) as a central activity hub for rehabilitating ODDP members of the group. Additionally, they had previously been trained in eco-pounding practices and expressed interest in learning ecoprint as an alternative business opportunity alongside their existing ginger syrup and tie-dye batik production,” explained Mesa regarding the study program’s community service initiatives.
Mesa added that the members of Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo also wished to use the plants from Taksi Kencana as materials for ecoprint production. To support this, Prodi PKP provided additional plant seedlings. The training sessions were held on September 9, 10, and 12, 2024, attended by 15 participants, including paguyuban members, caregivers, and members of the local Women’s Farmer Group (KWT). The ecoprint training was conducted by Hastin Solikhah, S.Sn., a Cultural Village Facilitator. Additionally, Prodi PKP organized a plant cultivation training for ecoprint, led by Rani Agustina Wulandari, S.P., M.P., Ph.D., a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Cultivation, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM. The ecoprint products made by the members were later presented at the APLL4DR forum.
Dr. Dyah Woro Untari, S.P., M.P., Head of the PKP Study Program, stated that Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo’s achievement has garnered regional attention and could serve as a reference for similar initiatives at the national level for other self-help groups. Moreover, this program is expected to empower the Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo community, promote economic independence, and enhance their capacity to manage agriculture-based businesses sustainably.
The assistance provided by Prodi PKP aligns with the commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Authors: Happy Nastasya Salsabilla, Azizah Nur Rohmah, Nafeny Nirmalasiwi, Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Hanita Athasari Zain
Photo: Documentation of Prodi PKP