Program Pendidikan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat/ Community Service Education Program (P3M) held a community service program for the third time from July 13, to August 10, 2016 at Desa Cindulang (Cindulang Village), Kecamatan Cimanggung, Kabupaten Sumedang (Sumedang Regency). This activity was followed by 12 participants consisting of 11 male and 1 female students from various study programs/departments. This activity also involved 4 Dosen Pendamping Lapangan/ Field Mentoring Lecturers who will accompany the participants. They consist of Mr. Ario Tejo Sugiarto (LPH), Ms. Judith Felicia Pattiwael (Faculty of Economics), Mr. Andreas Doweng Bolo (LPH), and Mr. Cosmas Lili Alika (LPH). In addition to the DPLs there were two lecturers that act as observers in the Mentoring process, Ms. Cindy Marika and Mr. Andy Chandra (Faculty of Technology)
Before immersing themselves in the local community, the participants had been provided with sufficient provision so that they are ready and confident to mingle with the citizens of Cindulang village. Therefore, the P3M team had designed several class meetings with numerous topics that may support the community service program. The village chief and village secretary were also invited in a meeting to provide a description of the situation and condition of the Cindulang village. This preparation also acted as a means to provide reinforcement for the participants’ confidence to participate in this community service program.
After undergoing numerous preparations, the participants were finally ready to face the locals. The process began with an observation period. The participants collected data and held some meetings with the village officials and citizens in order to identify projects that can be conducted at village level or even lower level based on the physical or non-physical data that could represent real society’s need. The projects conducted by the students in this community service were: the installation of domestic sewage pipes, basic village road paving, maintenance of sewer walls, maintenance of washing and toilet facilities, water distribution dialogue and many others. The citizens were enthusiastic and were actively involved in the projects.
28 days had passed and the sense of togetherness as one big family made it difficult for the students to walk away from Cindulang village. The totality of the process shown by the students and mentors has completed the dynamics of the entire community service program.
In order to realize an idea, we cannot simply struggle at the idea and thought level, but we have to act and become involved. We have to be willing to take part and serve the local community in particular and society at large in general.
