LAHAD DATU: The International Community Service Programme or “Program Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (PkM)” organised by Universitas Terbuka Indonesia (UT) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), recently, aims to further empower communities on the Malaysia-Indonesia border.
“Three activities were carried out, namely ‘Empowering Teachers on the Indonesia-Malaysia Border as Volunteers to Prevent Violence against Children and Women’, Teacher Entrepreneurship Programme and ‘The violence against women and children Prevention Programme: A Microsystem Intervention’.
“They were carried out at FGV Sahabat Community Learning centre and involved the teachers, communities as well as Indonesians working in Malaysia,” said head of International PkM team Erna Risnawati.
Through this activity, it is hoped that teachers can become active agents in protecting the rights of children and women in their communities.
Apart from providing training to teachers and the community as well as Indonesian workers in Lahad Datu, UT also provides facilities in the form of Android TV, equipment for school officials and create a mini library entitled “Pojok Baca” to support the learning process at FGV Sahabat Community Learning Centre.
“It is hoped that with the implementation of the PkM programme, closer relationships can be established between Indonesia-Malaysia border communities and educational institutions, as well as creating a stronger and more independent society.
“It is also hoped that this programme can also provide a strong positive impact, in the fields of education, economics and social protection, so that people can enjoy the benefits in the long term,” she said.
