Parahyangan Catholic University consistently implements the philosophical values contained in the motto “Bakuning Hyang Mrih Guna Santyaya Bhakti” that is ‘based on divinity acquiring knowledge for the service of the community’.
One form of these deeds is the fact that UNPAR has a non-profit organization under the auspices of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences specifically, the learning guidance foster brother program. The program routinely and consistently holds social activities, especially in education for the 1st to 6th grades of elementary school.
In the period of the class of 26, the action of this organization has received the trust from the people of Ciumbuleuit. Every year, there are 6 schools that entrust their students to be guided by UNPAR students namely: the Ciumbuleuit Public Elementary schools 1 – 4 and the Bandung Baru Public Elementary School 1 and 2.
To maintain a conducive learning environment, the program limits the quota of 15 students per school; the 15 students are based on the recommendation of the class teacher by taking into account their economical background and their track record; nonetheless there are always other students not recommended by the class teacher who wish to join and learn together every Saturday at 12 pm (Western Indonesia Time) in front of the Mgr. Geisse Lecture Theatre FISIP. Once in a while the learning activities are conducted in building 3 classrooms or in their respective schools.
The decades of hosting the learning guidance foster brother program, is not without hindrance, and often the hindrance comes from internal or external parties like the lack of human resources, lack of funds, and miscommunication between teachers and students. Luckily, the UNPAR students are able to come up with creative solutions such as opening up volunteer vacancies for tutors, applying for funds to the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM UNPAR) and alumni, conducting fund raising as well as adjusting the academic schedule with respective schools to minimize miss-communication.
Now, the initiators of the Learning Guidance Foster Brother program are trying to innovate and vary their teaching method and activities to prevent boredom; such as conducting an art week, promoting the students in cross non-profit organizations, and collaborating with UNPAR’s program TOSAYA ‘ Ngabantos Masyarakat Sadaya’ (Helping all People). The collaboration results are the development of street, the repair of water ways or by creating handicrafts with the people of Ciumbuleuit.
In practice, there are many forms of UNPAR students’ dedication to practice their knowledge and to be active in service of the community. The projects of the Learning Guidance Foster Brother Program and UNPAR TOSAYA are only two out of many from of community service programs that have left a profound impact in the hearts of teachers, students, and parents as well as people of Ciumbuleuit.
