KKN and the Challenges of Prospering Village UMKM's in the Current Era

Tangerang, July 23, 2025 - Community Service Programs (KKN) are not just academic obligations, but also a tangible reflection of student dedication to the community. However, behind the spirit of bringing change, I personally realize that practical application isn't always as straightforward as classroom theory.

This year, our campus's main KKN theme was to support and improve the welfare of UMKM in the villages where we were assigned. A mission that sounds ideal, but in reality, it was fraught with very real challenges. From the first days, my fellow students and I were faced with a gap in understanding between ourselves and the communities we hoped to help.

Many UMKM's welcomed our intentions. However, most still didn't fully grasp what we were trying to accomplish. When we talked about online promotion strategies, improving packaging quality, digital transaction, and digitalizing marketing, they seemed confused. We had to re-explain in simpler terms, repeatedly, to make them feel comfortable and avoid being lost in unfamiliar terms.

We also received complaints about limited capital. Several business owners expressed their desire to grow but were hampered by limited funding. This presented a dilemma for us, as it was not within the students' authority or capacity to provide direct financial assistance. We could only provide assistance, training, and motivation.

Furthermore, some UMKM owners expressed pessimism. Some believed the program would be a burdensome and cumbersome. Some said it all sounded "too complicated," "not suitable for small businesses like theirs," or that the results "would be nothing."

This situation forced us to listen more, be more patient, and be more thoughtful in our approach. We began adjusting our delivery methods, trying to engage with them personally, and building more fluid communication. We understood that change cannot be forced instantly.

While not all programs have been perfect, I believe this experience has opened our eyes, the students, to the reality of community service. Community Service Program (KKN) is not just about completing a work program, but about understanding people, social challenges, and how to be a small part of gradual—albeit slow—change.

Children's Day: Time to Awareness and Protect!

National Children's Day, celebrated every July 23rd, should be a moment for all elements of society to reflect on the condition of Indonesian children. However, instead of being celebrated with joy, this year's commemoration is overshadowed by a grim fact: violence against children continues to occur in various regions, and in even more diverse forms.

In recent years, reports of physical, psychological, sexual violence, and even economic exploitation of children have continued to emerge. Institutions such as the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) and the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) have noted that many cases of violence occur in homes, schools, and even places of worship—environments that should provide a sense of security. Children are not only victims of violence by strangers, but also by those closest to them who should be protecting them.

Violence against children is not only a legal issue, but also a deeply rooted culture of silence and neglect. Many cases go unreported because they are considered a family disgrace or a "minor problem." This hinders the upholding of justice and complicates the recovery process for victims.

National Children's Day commemoration should not be limited to ceremonies and sweet slogans. It's time to face the reality that child protection in Indonesia is far from ideal. The public needs to be made aware that violence, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on a child's physical and mental development.

The government has indeed established various regulations and child protection institutions. However, this is not enough without the support of collective public awareness. Child protection must begin in the family, be strengthened in the social environment, and be guaranteed by the state.

If we truly want to celebrate National Children's Day with its true meaning, then our duty is to ensure that every child in this country can grow up safely, with their rights respected, and free from all forms of violence. Because when one child is harmed, the future of the nation is shaken.

Mystery of Death of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomat in Boarding House

Tangerang, July 23, 2025 – The death of Arya Daru Pangayunan (39), a diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), remains a major mystery. The victim was found dead in his boarding room on Jalan Gondangdia Kecil, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (July 8), with his face wrapped in yellow duct tape.

To follow up on the family's report and obtain additional information, the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) visited the scene on Tuesday (July 22). At the scene, Kompolnas inspected several parts of the victim's room, including the ceiling, plumbing, mattress, and the position of the door lock.

Kompolnas Commissioner Choirul Anam explained that his team also asked the boarding house guards to demonstrate the process of opening the door before discovering the victim's lifeless body. He emphasized that there are two types of locks on the room door: a regular lock and a slot lock, which can only be locked and unlocked from the inside.

"The key slot was locked at the time. We confirmed this directly with the guard and also compared it with the available video," said Anam.

No Strange Sounds Before the Victim Was Found

Interviews with other boarding house residents revealed that no suspicious sounds were heard the night before the victim was found. One of the residents, who stayed up until 1 a.m., also stated that nothing unusual had occurred.

"It was quiet that night, there were no suspicious sounds," explained Anam. He also stated that the boarding house was in normal condition at the time, with only a light drizzle.

History of Activities Before Death

Anam stated that his team had obtained a chronological overview of Arya Daru's activities before he was found dead. This information was obtained from his family, including events before and after his death.

Furthermore, the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) has confirmed intense communication between the victim's wife and the boarding house guard leading up to Arya's death. "We have obtained detailed minute-by-minute communications between the victim's wife and the boarding house guard, including the context of the conversations," said Anam.

Black Plastic Bag and CCTV Footage

One key point in the investigation is the presence of a black plastic bag that Arya was carrying. CCTV footage shows the victim entering his boarding room at 11:23 PM WIB on Monday (July 7). One minute later, he is seen leaving with the black plastic bag and re-entering the room two minutes later without it.

According to Anam, the contents of the plastic bag have been examined by the police and could be important evidence in this case. "We were shown the contents and explained the procedures for handling such evidence," he said.
Awaiting Autopsy Results

After visiting the scene, the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) also met with investigators from the General Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police. During the meeting, investigators explained the progress of the investigation, including the evidence collected.

Anam stated that the case is currently awaiting the results of the forensic autopsy. "This autopsy is specific, not just a post-mortem or standard autopsy. We are all still waiting for the complete results, and hopefully they will be released soon," he concluded.

Me, an Introvert, and a Small Tutoring Class in the Living Room

Tangerang, 08 Juli 2025 - I never thought I'd write this and actually publish it on my blog. But I felt like I needed a place to share my story. Who knows, maybe I'll read it again, and I'll smile to myself because I've been so confused.

So, I'm now in my sixth semester majoring in English Education. For a long time—a really long time—some of my neighbors and relatives have been asking me to open an English tutoring class at home to teach their children. I've heard requests like that countless times.

But I always say, "Later, Ma'am..." or just smile and say, "God willing, Ma'am..." But deep down, I'm hesitant. I'm afraid. Not afraid of the students, but afraid of myself. I'm a very introverted person. I rarely leave the house. When I do, it's only for necessary purposes. I never go to my neighbors' houses or have long conversations. I know them, yes, but only by name.

And honestly, I don't know the kids around my house that well. I often just watched them play, or just said hello when I passed them. Even then, I often just smiled. So when I was asked to teach them, I felt like, "Can I do it? Can I connect well with kids I'm not that close to?"

The problem was that I did teach, but I taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, not private tutoring at home. However, over time, the urge grew stronger. A few weeks ago, a neighbor seriously asked, "When are you going to start tutoring, Miss?" Ugh. I was so confused. On the one hand, it would be awkward to keep refusing. On the other hand, I also thought: If I don't try, how will I know if I can do it?

Finally, I took the plunge. I said, "God willing, I'll start this week, Mom." And it worked. Four days ago, I officially opened an English tutoring class at home. It's a small-scale class. The students are all from my neighbors. The study room is also the living room, which I transformed into a "makeshift classroom."

And it turns out... it's not as easy as I thought.
I thought the important thing was having the materials. It turns out, creating a comfortable learning environment is a real challenge. Especially since I'm a quiet and awkward person, I really have to find ways to not be awkward.

I have to prepare age-appropriate materials, create activities to keep them engaged, and so on. But despite all the hassle, there's a joy I can't deny. It feels like... I'm learning something completely new. Learning to be brave. Learning to believe in my own abilities. Learning to make the kids feel at home learning with me. And most importantly: learning to do it, even when I'm still unsure.

Honestly, I'm still far from being a "cool tutor." My study room is still mediocre. My teaching methods still have a lot to evaluate. But, if I don't start now, I'll never know if I can do it. And it turns out, starting isn't that scary. Despite the difficulties, it still taught me many things I never learned in college.

If you happen to be reading this and have a dream — whether it's opening a tutoring center, starting a business, creating art, or simply trying something new — I have one thing to say: just go for it. Give it a try. Let your doubts flow, but don't let them stop you.

Because I still have doubts, I'm still afraid of making mistakes, but now I'm happy because at least I'm not stuck with the word "later." I'm really trying.

Pray for me that I can continue learning and make this small tutoring even more beneficial. And if you're also looking to start something, I hope you have the courage and I hope it goes smoothly. We're all learning slowly. 🌻✨

Kevin Sanjaya: Give Up? Don't

Tangerang, 07 Juli 2025 - Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, one of Indonesia's best men's doubles players, recently launched a scathing critique of the mentality of young badminton players. In his statement, Kevin highlighted the phenomenon where young players are deemed to give up too easily when faced with pressure on the court.

According to Kevin, young athletes should be willing to fight to the end, rather than giving up when they're far behind. "If you're already far behind, you have to keep trying. There's still a chance before the game ends," Kevin emphasized, as quoted by several national media outlets.

Kevin's statement is not without reason. His own experience on the court has often proven that mental fortitude can be a powerful weapon for turning things around. Kevin reminded us that a winning mentality doesn't just emerge during a match, but is cultivated through training. "Motivation must be cultivated through training. From training, you don't easily accept defeat, and so on. If that's the case, it will automatically carry over into the tournament," he said.

Kevin also highlighted how there's sometimes a gap in communication between players and administrators. He hopes for more support to develop the fighting spirit of the next generation, so that Indonesian badminton can continue to excel at the world level.

Kevin's statement immediately drew a wide response from badminton fans in Indonesia. Many supported his criticism, noting that Indonesia's men's doubles performance has often fluctuated recently.

As a former world number one men's doubles player with Marcus Gideon, Kevin clearly has extensive experience in maintaining a strong mentality under pressure. He hopes that Kevin's sarcasm will serve as a positive reminder to young players to not be easily complacent and to continue fighting hard at every point.

Megawati: From Korea to Turkey

 

Tangerang, 06 Juli 2025 - Exciting news has arrived from the world of Indonesian volleyball. Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi, the country's leading women's volleyball player, is reportedly set to join a professional club in the Turkish Volleyball League for the 2025/2026 season.

Megawati, affectionately nicknamed Megatron for her powerful smashes, has long attracted the attention of international volleyball fans. After shining with the Daejeon Red Sparks in the Korean Volleyball League, her performance has gained increasing recognition, attracting attention from top European clubs.

The Turkish League itself is known as one of the best women's volleyball leagues in Europe and the world. Megawati's presence in this competitive league is expected to increase her playing time, gain experience, and further enhance the reputation of Indonesian volleyball on the international stage.

During her season in South Korea, Megawati performed impressively and was named Player of the Match several times. Her consistent play has further strengthened her reputation as one of Asia's leading volleyball players.

News of Megawati's move was greeted enthusiastically by Indonesian netizens. Fans flooded Megawati's social media accounts with congratulations and support, while also expressing hope that she would bring back new knowledge and experience to the Indonesian national volleyball team.

Turkey is known as a magnet for many of the world's top volleyball players thanks to its high level of competition, professional facilities, and fanatical crowd support. Megawati's move is a positive signal that Indonesian volleyball players are capable of competing at any level. From Korea, now Europe—and who knows, in the future, Megawati could even compete in the Italian League or the more prestigious Volleyball Champions League.

Hopefully, Megawati will make history as one of the first Indonesian volleyball players to break into a European volleyball league, while also paving the way for young Indonesian athletes to dare to dream of reaching the international stage.

May Megatron's path to the European stage go smoothly and further motivate the next generation of Indonesian volleyball players!

RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR: Seokjin Brings Variety Show to the Concert Stage

Tangerang, 29 Juni 2025 — Who would have thought that Kim Seokjin, or Jin of BTS, would come up with such a crazy idea? Through RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR, Seokjin proves that the stage isn't just a place to sing. Instead, this tour transforms into a mobile variety show — complete with games, jokes, and warm interactions with ARMY. Through this tour, Seokjin proves himself to be more than just a K-pop idol, but a true entertainer.

RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR is the continuation and conclusion of his personal variety show, RUN JIN. Previously, RUN JIN existed as a solo version of RUN BTS — a show that featured Seokjin playing games, taking on challenges, and freely showing off his humorous side.

Unlike typical K-pop concerts, which are synonymous with grand stages, intricate choreography, and booming fanchants, Seokjin's tour creates a warmer and more interactive atmosphere. In this concert, Seokjin performed not only as a singer, but also as an MC and host.

Throughout the show, Seokjin engaged the audience directly through various on-stage games. These included telepathy games, song guessing, and spontaneous challenges, making the concert feel like a live variety show filming. Seokjin even went off stage to interact more closely with Army—the nickname for BTS fans.

This 3-in-1 concept is one of the reasons why RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR is considered history-making. Seokjin combined a music concert, fan meeting, and variety show all on the same stage—an approach rarely attempted by K-pop idols.

The concert sold out quickly. Many fans said they came not only to hear Seokjin's melodious voice, but also to experience a unique experience unlike any other concert. Some attendees even took home special gifts from Seokjin as mementos.

RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR is proof that Seokjin is not afraid to try new things. He successfully proved that concerts don't always have to be grand and formal, but can be an intimate space to share laughter, stories, and warmth with fans.

With this tour, Seokjin closed RUN JIN in a special way: making the concert stage the final episode that only ARMYs around the world could watch live.

Kim Seokjin once again demonstrated his own way of writing history—with laughter, warmth, and sincerity that left a lasting impression on the audience.

Congratulations on Graduating, Little Heroes!

Tangerang, 21 Juni 2025 - It was a day full of emotion and happiness at Bimbel Kids. That day we held a graduation and farewell event for children who would continue to kindergarten or elementary school. Although only three children received graduation certificates, the moment still felt special for everyone, including the children who would return to study with us after the holidays.

 

As one of the teachers at Bimbel Kids (although not the main teacher), I felt very grateful to be directly involved in this event. I was trusted to be the MC that day - welcoming the parents and guiding the event from start to finish.

One of the proudest moments was when the children performed the songs they had practiced for almost three weeks. These songs were not songs we usually sing in our daily activities, so it took extra effort for the children to memorize them and appear confidently in front of many people. But they did it! Their performance was simple, but full of enthusiasm and sincerity - and that's what made it extraordinary.

After the performance, we handed over graduation certificates to the three children who would soon enter kindergarten and elementary school. Seeing them standing in front holding their certificates, it felt like seeing little kids starting to prepare for the bigger world.

We also had a small gift exchange session. The kids gave each other simple gifts, but they taught me a lot – about sharing, caring, and appreciating friends.

The most touching thing was that I also received gifts from the kids. Not much, but very meaningful. Two hijabs with sweet letters written in their little hands, and a bale of skin crackers that immediately made me smile widely. It’s not about what the gifts are, but how warm their attention is – that’s priceless.

That day wasn’t just about goodbye, but also about growth, hard work, and beautiful memories that I will always remember. Thank you, my great kids. Thank you also to Bimbel Kids who have always been a learning home full of love and laughter.

See you next semester – and good luck on your new adventures for those of you who are about to step into the next level! 🌈✨

 

Neighbor Gets Married, I'm the Stressed One

A few days ago, I attended my neighbor's wedding. He's only 19 years old, and his wife just graduated from high school. What made me smile to myself was that this guy used to like me. He wasn't a boyfriend, he never asked me out either — but I knew it from the way he hinted and from what everyone said.

His wedding that day made me reflect for a long time, thinking, "Wow, it feels so fast, doesn't it?" I don't mean to be sarcastic or intrusive. It's just… honestly, at this age, I often feel confused about my life. Seeing other people confident and brave enough to get married young, I find myself asking, "If I were in their position, would I be ready?"

I don't want to say that getting married young is wrong, because everyone has their own reasons. Some people are already sure of themselves, have their blessings, and have plans — that's perfectly fine. But personally, I'm still afraid to rush into it.

For me, marriage isn't just about mutual love, nor is it about being able to throw a festive event. It's about being ready to face the responsibilities and new things that come with a new status. You have to be mentally prepared, your heart mature, and your finances strong.

That's why, when I see other people getting married young, I sometimes feel pressured. Not because I'm jealous, but because I realize I'm still not ready. And that's okay, right? We all have our own paths.

I believe everyone has their own time. Some people move quickly, others take it slow. And I hope that anyone who marries young—including my neighbor—can always be happy and strong enough to face whatever comes their way.

Me? I'm still here. I don't know when I'll change my status. I still want to learn many things, pursue unfinished dreams, and prepare my heart, mind, and savings. Because I want it, when it's my turn, I'll be truly ready — not because I'm forced to, or because I'm following others, but because I really want to and am able to.