Depok-The Vocational Public Relations Student Association of the Universitas Indonesia (HM VOKHUM UI) once again demonstrated its real contribution to society through the PRESENT X PREFER 2024 activity held on September 28, 2024. The event, which was held at the Bina Cahaya Bathin Social Home for the Blind, East Jakarta, carried the theme “Trash to Treasure”, which is processing waste into valuable items.
(Photo: Provision of trash bins provided by HM VOKHUM UI to the Bina Cahaya Bathin Social Home for the Blind)
Head of the Public Relations Study Program, Mareta Maulidiyanti, S.Sos., M.M., said that the activity held by students of the Public Relations study program was one of the steps for them to get directly involved in the community. Armed with emphasizing the importance of the campaign to implement the 4R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replace), Mareta highlighted the low awareness of the people in Indonesia about waste management. “We want to show that waste has the potential to become useful and usable items. Not only that, the presence of students also becomes a place to learn sign language with friends here. So, we can learn from each other,” said Mareta.
In addition, Husein, the Spokesperson of the Indonesian Sign Language Community (Bisindo) and the Administrator of the Bina Cahaya Bathin Social Home, also gave his appreciation and highlighted the value of this collaboration to increase children’s environmental awareness in his speech. “We warmly welcome the arrival of HM VOKHUM UI, we also agree that the PRESENT X PREFER program educates and has a positive impact on society,” said Husein.
(Photo: The atmosphere of social activities carried out by Public Relations students at a social home for the blind)
Children with speech and hearing impairments actively participate in preserving their environment. The involvement of children with disabilities is also in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10 on efforts to reduce inequality. In this event, they were provided with a basic understanding of waste based on its type, namely organic (wet and dry), inorganic, and hazardous and toxic materials. This material was delivered through the use of sign language and visual aids by involving the Bisindo Community as the sign language interpreter.
The orphanage children were also invited to play a game. They were asked to group the waste based on its types, namely organic and inorganic. Entering the special activity session, the children were invited to pour out their skills by reprocessing used beverage bottles into cute and adorable pencil cases according to their respective creativity. This session was very interactive, so it could lift their mood and spirit that afternoon.
(Photo: The process of making creative works by children from a social home for the blind accompanied by students from the Public Relations study program)
Husein added, “Thanks to this program, children can learn things that are not taught in schools in a unique and fun way. We can see the potential for creativity that arises in children.” They also hope that this program can motivate themselves to find alternative learning that is fun and can be reapplied with new innovations in the future.
