The Masters of Social Sciences Program (MIS), Postgraduate Program of Parahyangan Catholic University (UNPAR) conducted a community service program in the village of Arjasari, Bandung regency. This program is a follow up of the previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Parahyangan Catholic University and the Wadah Titian Harapan Foundation in 2014. The Arjasari Village is one community under the guidance of Wadah Titian Harapan Foundation through community development programs related to education, cultural development, and community economic development.
The accompaniment/tutoring program is held between April-August 2015, and still continuing. The accompaniment/tutoring program had been adjusted with the local community characteristic that relies on agriculture. The program involved students and lecturers, including foreign students who are part of the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang /Developing Countries Partnership (KNB). The lecturers involved in the program are: Dr. Gandhi Pawitan (Small and Medium Enterprises Development), Dr. Nia Juliawati (Financial Management), Dr. Sukawarsini Djelantik (Communication Technology Utilization), and Dr. Judi Retty Witono (Chemical Technology for food and non-food).
One of the KNB’s students from Brazzaville Congo, Dirami Nsadi, admitted to have learned a lot from the program. Dirami plan conduct and develop a similar program after returning to his country. A student from Maluku/Moluccas, Olivia Rumalutur, also conveyed a similar sentiment by developing a similar Accompaniment/tutoring program.
It is undeniable that the community service program has not only been beneficial for the community directly influenced, but also functions as a learning and experience gaining event for the students of the Masters of Social Sciences Program.
