ITS Campus, ITS News — Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) held the Send-off and Briefing of the Impactful Student Program for Sumatra Disaster Impact Recovery on Monday (2/2). The event, which took place at the ITS Research Center Building, aimed to provide specific direction and briefing for students who will later depart to Sumatra to distribute aid.
There are 10 students deployed in this impactful program. They will later be placed in several areas in Sumatra affected by the disaster. These include Pidie Jaya Regency, Pameu in Central Aceh Regency, Langsa, Rusip Antara District, Aceh Tamiang, Gayo Luwes, Lut Jaya, as well as Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) posts in the Aceh region that were previously isolated.
ITS Rector Prof Dr (HC) Ir Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng PhD explained that this program is a follow-up step in distributing aid to disaster-affected areas. The impactful student program is a concrete step for ITS in providing post-disaster recovery assistance. “This program affirms the identity of ITS which has a direct impact on society and is a concrete manifestation of the Tridharma of higher education,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, Bambang explained that ITS has carried out five stages of humanitarian aid. These stages include technology-based emergency response, sustainable infrastructure recovery, rehabilitation and revitalization of social infrastructure, education care action, and clean water and drinking water care action.
In line with this, the impactful student program was launched to continue assistance in affected areas to help accelerate recovery. Therefore, students are given a briefing before departing to the areas where the aid will later be distributed. This briefing aims to protect the deployed team so they can return safely and complete their humanitarian mission.
The briefing began with getting to know the culture of the community in the destination areas, documentation and publication strategies, as well as a briefing on volunteer health and safety. These materials were delivered directly by experts consisting of lecturers, educational staff (tendik), alumni, and other parties participating in this program.
Starting with the briefing on community culture, the Deputy Secretary General of PP IKA ITS, Ir Hamdani Bantasyam ST MMT IPU ASEAN Eng, explained how student volunteers should act and behave when distributing aid. “Students must know what the community culture is like there so they can give the best impression when providing assistance,” emphasized the Managing Director of PT Energi Quarto Indonesia.
On the other hand, ITS Medicine Study Program lecturer dr Faizal Mahdi gave a briefing to students on how student volunteers must comply with field safety rules and understand basic health. According to him, this must be mastered by students so that the aid and humanitarian mission succeed and they return safely.
On this occasion, the ITS Rector also advised the students who will depart to be able to give their best. “To all students who will depart, maintain your manners, prioritize safety, and use your knowledge to serve,” he advised.
Through this program and step, ITS also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically on point 3, namely Good Health and Well-being, as well as point 11 regarding Sustainable Cities and Communities through assistance and handling in the affected areas. (ITS PUBLIC RELATIONS)
Reporter: Ahmad Maulana