Postgraduate Program in Communication UI Student Association (Himpaskom UI) 3.0 visited Komunitas Jendela Jakarta (KJJ) in the Manggarai area on Sunday, September 29, 2024 as a form of community service through increasing knowledge about communication media and digital literacy. Komunitas Jendela Jakarta itself focuses on developing children’s education, especially reading interest among lower middle class children with limited access to education.
Learning activities designed by Himpaskom UI 3.0 are tailored to the diverse ages of community members. Beginning with introductions, yells, and singing together, the children were divided into four groups based on education level. Children with an education level equivalent to kindergarten were invited to recognize old and new forms of communication media through play-based learning activities. The children were guided to paste several types of communication media on paper, then categorize them as old media or new media. Through this activity, children can differentiate the types of communication media, as well as know how the media works and when to use it.
Meanwhile, children with education levels equivalent to grades 1-2 elementary school participated in reading aloud activities, namely listening to fairy tales read by volunteers from Himpaskom UI 3.0. The children seemed enthusiastic about imitating the animal voices imitated by the volunteers and answering a number of questions asked related to the storyline that had been read.
In another corner, children in grades 3-6 were busy writing letters to family, friends, or volunteers on blank paper that had been distributed earlier. The letters, which were put in envelopes and affixed with real stamps, were then put into a closed cardboard box like a post box. Through this activity, the children were introduced to the mechanism of sending messages by post which is no longer commonplace today.
The materials on digital literacy and critical thinking were delivered to children with junior and senior high school education levels to hone their ability to distinguish hoax information that is often circulated along with increased internet access. Despite their poor social and economic backgrounds, the children had good knowledge and reasoning about information seeking and communication ethics on social media.
At the end of the event, the children were given the opportunity to share their impressions and experiences of the day. Some children readily raised their hands and shared the activities they had participated in. Furthermore, all children enthusiastically lined up to receive gifts from Himpaskom UI 3.0 in the form of bags, stationery, notebooks, bottled milk, and some snacks. The day’s event ended with a group photo.
Mitha Talia Utami, Chairperson of the KJJ Social Media Division and Yasmin Qoidah Khoirunnisa, Member of the KJJ Volunteer Division who attended the event admitted that they were happy and enthusiastic about Himpaskom UI 3.0’s participation in teaching and learning activities. Both of them hope that this collaboration can continue to be established to increase the positive impact for the children of Jendela Jakarta Community.
They are also happy to accept and encourage Himpaskom UI’s participation in other Jendela Community areas that still lack volunteers, such as Serpong and Sungai Bambu. (SAC)
