Jakarta, 13 February 2026 – The Faculty of Communication (Fikom) at Universitas Tarumanagara once again demonstrated its concern for the community through a Community Service (PKM) program for residents affected by a ground movement disaster at the Padasari Village evacuation shelter, Tegal Regency, Central Java. This activity reflects the academic community’s commitment not only to education and research but also to directly assisting communities facing emergency situations.
The ground movement disaster in the area forced a number of residents to evacuate and limit their daily activities. This condition has affected not only the physical and economic aspects of community life but also psychological well-being, particularly among children who experienced sudden environmental changes. In response to this situation, the Fikom Untar PKM team provided moral and social support aimed at helping residents remain resilient and optimistic.
In carrying out this program, Fikom Untar collaborated with the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) of Universitas Tarumanagara as part of the university’s community engagement initiative. The PKM team included the Dean of Fikom Untar, Dr. Sinta Paramita, S.I.P., M.A., along with two Fikom Untar students, Shevina Vimalananda S. and Manda Aulia Az Zahra. The involvement of students in this activity served as a valuable field-learning experience in social concern, humanitarian communication, and the vital role of higher education institutions in supporting communities.
During the program, the PKM team participated in various activities designed to meet the needs of residents both at the disaster site and in evacuation areas. One of the activities that received special attention was engagement with children through educational games and interactive activities. These activities aimed to provide psychosocial support, ensuring that children continued to have a safe and enjoyable space for activities while helping to reduce anxiety caused by the disaster situation.
In addition, the team assisted with village post operations and interacted directly with residents to listen to their needs and understand their conditions. The interpersonal communication approach applied during these interactions played an important role in building closeness and mutual trust between volunteers and the community.
The Dean of Fikom Untar, Dr. Sinta, stated that community service activities represent a concrete implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. She emphasized that direct engagement with communities provides valuable learning experiences for students while strengthening empathy and social awareness.
“Community service activities are expected to provide students with the experience of making real contributions to society. In addition, this activity is expected to help communities affected by natural disasters. We hope that residents affected by the ground movement disaster in Tegal remain strong and optimistic moving forward. Fikom Untar also extends moral support to the affected residents,” she said.
Through this activity, Fikom Untar hopes to foster the spirit of mutual cooperation and social concern, both within the academic community and in society at large. This PKM program is also expected to inspire students to be more actively involved in humanitarian activities and to understand that communication science plays an important role in crisis situations, particularly in building hope, solidarity, and social resilience.
Going forward, Fikom Untar is committed to continuing the development of community service programs that are responsive to social needs, especially in disaster situations and post-disaster community recovery. (AK/LI)