Collaboration of the Community Empowerment Programme of the Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia and Weetebula Catholic University: From Sumba for Indonesia

The Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia collaborated with Weetebula Catholic University to carry out community empowerment activities in Southwest Sumba Regency (SBD) on 14-17 December 2022. The activity, which was driven by the Research and Community Service Institutions (LPPM) of the two Universities, is a form of sustainability of the renewable energy-based community empowerment programme that has been initiated with Bank Central Asia (BCA) since 2021 through the construction of solar power plants in the Lendongara area, Karuni Village, Lourra District, Southwest Sumba Regency.

The series of activities began with opening a dialogue forum with residents of Totok Village, Lourra District, facilitated by the local customary chief, Stefanus Koro, for the potential construction of the next phase of the solar power plant. Residents enthusiastically welcomed the plan because it was needed especially by children to facilitate learning.

Community empowerment activities that touch the economic aspect are in the form of training for the community to make looms. Through this activity, it is hoped that the community in the Lendongara area can produce Sumba fabrics from upstream with competitive valuations. At the same time, there was also a socialisation activity on land certification at Karuni Village Hall. The activity, which was presented by Mrs Putri Purbasari (lecturer at FH Unika Atma Jaya), Mr Ridonsius Djula (Head of the Land Office of SBD Regency), and Mr Alex Ngongo Routa (Head of Karuni Village), aimed to increase the legal awareness of the Karuni Village community about the importance of land certification.

In addition, as a tangible form of cooperation between Atma Jaya Catholic University and the SBD Regency Government, Atma Jaya Institute of Public Policy (AJIPP) also contributed through capacity building activities for state civil apparatus (ASN) in SBD Regency. This activity is a follow-up to the results of the focus group discussion (FGD) between the two parties in order to explore the need assessment of the ASN of SBD Regency.

On a separate occasion, Mrs Murniati Agustian (lecturer at FPB Unika Atma Jaya) conducted basic literacy activities at elementary and junior high schools in the Lendongara area. This activity was coloured by various literacy competitions, including a quiz competition which was followed by local students with great enthusiasm.

The whole series of activities is a commitment of cooperation between Bank BCA, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, and Weetebula Catholic University in an effort to empower the community in Karuni Village to achieve a better standard of living.