Lembaga Pengabdian Pada Masyarakat (LPPM), a community development unit under Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), recently spearheaded an impactful community development initiative in Bandar Baru Village, Sibolangit District, Deli Serdang. Led by Husni Thamrin, S.Sos., MSP, along with M.Ikom, Arief Marizki Purba, SE, S.Sos., M.Si, and Farida Hanim, S.Sos., M.I.Kom, this initiative aims to address the pressing social issues in the region.
Bandar Baru is notably recognized as one of the prostitution hotspots in North Sumatra, where the complexities of economic, social, and cultural factors intertwine. This area faces significant challenges, including high rates of drug abuse and deviant behaviors among teenagers. Contributing factors such as poverty, lack of education, and limited job opportunities in the formal sector often drive individuals towards prostitution.
To combat these issues, the LPPM team has introduced a foster parent program focusing on providing access to education for the local youth. This initiative seeks to interrupt the cycle of prostitution by ensuring that adolescents receive a good education, thereby steering them away from negative behaviors and social problems such as drug abuse.
The foster parent program encourages community members to sponsor students, ensuring their continued education and reducing their risk of falling into deviant behaviors. Each foster parent is asked to contribute Rp. 100,000 per month to support a student’s education at Madrasah Tsanawiyah YPI AL Hilal in Bandar Baru Village. This manageable monthly donation is pivotal in keeping the students engaged in their studies and away from the dangers prevalent in their community.
Husni Thamrin emphasized the importance of this program in achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including promoting healthy and prosperous lives, ensuring quality education for underprivileged children, and increasing youth productivity through meaningful activities. The team’s expertise in community empowerment and digital media has been instrumental in running effective campaigns and developing a robust reporting system for foster parents to monitor their sponsored children’s progress.
A significant part of this initiative involves a social media campaign to engage potential donors and raise awareness about the program. By leveraging digital platforms, the team aims to reach a wider audience and garner more support for the cause. The program also integrates the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) curriculum, allowing students from USU to participate in the community development activities. This hands-on experience helps students develop social skills, empathy, and a sense of responsibility towards societal issues.
Through this comprehensive approach, USU’s LPPM is making strides towards creating a positive change in Bandar Baru Village. The collaboration between academics, students, and the community highlights USU’s commitment to addressing social problems and fostering sustainable development in North Sumatra. This initiative is not just a step towards mitigating the immediate issues but also a long-term investment in the community’s future, aiming to uplift and empower the residents of Bandar Baru Village.
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