Semarang – After children socialized together through the “Poketasi Tunas Ngrembaka” Literacy Corner, the PPK Implementation Team of the SGL PGSD Student Organization (Ormawa) of Semarang State University also provided an empowerment space for seniors through the “Poketrasi Kersa Ngrembaka” Literacy Corner. On Saturday, July 18, 2026, the team held the third meeting of the “Poketrasi Kersa Ngrembaka” Literacy Corner at the Neighborhood Association (RT) 6/RW 12 Hall, Podorejo Village, as part of Target Point I of the program’s implementation. The activity, attended by 23 senior participants, focused on two topics: Health Literacy through dementia prevention exercises and Skills through caping painting activities.
The presence of the Kersa Ngrembaka Literacy Corner is a response to the results of the community needs mapping conducted by the team since the beginning of the NGREMBAKA AKSARA program: Strengthening Cross-Generation Edupreneur Skills through the Integration of Literacy Corners and Hosting Libraries to Create a Smart and Sustainable Podorejo Village, which demonstrated the need for an empowerment space for the elderly to remain active, healthy, and productive. While the Tunas Ngrembaka Literacy Corner focuses on children, the Kersa Ngrembaka Literacy Corner serves as a learning and creative space for the elderly, while also emphasizing the intergenerational nature of the empowerment program, in line with the spirit of NGREMBAKA AKSARA.
Dementia Prevention Exercises: Maintaining Physical Fitness and Cognitive Health for the Elderly
The series of activities began with dementia prevention exercises specifically designed to maintain physical fitness and train the cognitive functions of the elderly participants. The exercise movements, guided by the implementation team, were designed to be simple yet effective in stimulating body coordination and memory, considering that dementia is a health challenge that needs to be addressed early in the elderly. The session was enthusiastically received by the participants, who actively participated in each movement with enthusiasm and shared laughter.
This health literacy activity is a tangible contribution to SDG 3 – Healthy and Prosperous Living, specifically in efforts to maintain the physical and mental health of the elderly through easily accessible and routine preventive activities in their own homes. Through this approach, seniors are not merely the objects of health services but are actively involved in maintaining their own quality of life.
Caping Painting: Nurturing Skills and Creativity in Old Age
Following the exercise session, the activity continued with a skill-based session called caping painting. This activity involved painting caping (a traditional woven bamboo farmer’s hat) using various motifs and colors, tailored to each participant’s creativity. This activity was designed not only to train the fine motor skills and concentration of seniors, but also to provide a fun space for artistic expression, providing a new experience for participants who have rarely had the opportunity to work creatively.
The participants’ enthusiasm was evident throughout the caping painting process, with each senior expressing their ideas and color schemes according to their tastes, resulting in unique and personal works. This activity embodies the implementation of edupreneur skills within the NGREMBAKA AKSARA program, while also supporting SDGs 4 – Quality Education through Lifelong Learning that Recognizes No Age Limits, and SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, as caping painting skills have the potential to be further developed into marketable products that can support the economic well-being of seniors and their families in the future.
Interestingly, the caping creations created by these seniors are not planned to be merely a pastime. All painted caping will be collected and displayed at the upcoming Podo Gelar Ngrembaka festival, which will be held as the culmination of the PPK Ormawa Program series in Podorejo Village. Through this festival, the work of seniors will receive greater recognition and serve as concrete evidence that creativity knows no age.
Support from Podorejo Women: Key to Connecting with Seniors
The success of this event is inseparable from the support of Podorejo Village’s women partners, who played a significant role in providing the venue and catering, as well as assisting the PPK Ormawa Team in building closer relationships with the senior participants. The presence of these local partners serves as a crucial bridge between the implementation team and the seniors, as a personal approach and a sense of trust are key to actively and comfortably engaging seniors throughout the activities.
The synergy between students, universities, and local women partners is a concrete reflection of SDG 17 – Partnerships to Achieve the Goals, which emphasizes that the success of community empowerment programs depends heavily on cross-stakeholder collaboration at the grassroots level. The support of the RT 6 RW 12 Hall as the implementation location also demonstrates the optimization of existing public facilities within the community, in line with the spirit of SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Settlements, where social spaces within residential areas are optimized to become inclusive empowerment spaces for all age groups, including the elderly.
A Shared Space for Health, Creativity, and Meaning
The presence of 23 elderly participants who participated in the activity from start to finish is clear evidence that the Kersa Ngrembaka Literacy Corner is able to provide a relevant and needed learning space for the elderly population of Podorejo Village. The combination of physical activity through dementia prevention exercises and creative activities such as caping painting demonstrates that empowering the elderly goes beyond health aspects but also encompasses meaningful social, emotional, and productivity dimensions.
Through this third meeting, the PPK Ormawa SGL PGSD UNNES Team emphasized that seniors are not passive participants in development, but rather active partners who still have the potential to be healthy, learn, and create. This activity demonstrates the NGREMBAKA AKSARA program’s commitment to building an inclusive, healthy, and sustainable intergenerational empowerment ecosystem. It also sets the stage for appreciation for seniors’ work through the upcoming Podo Gelar Ngrembaka festival.
Towards a Smart and Empowered Podorejo Village for All Ages
This series of activities at the Kersa Ngrembaka Literacy Corner serves as an important complement to the NGREMBAKA AKSARA learning ecosystem, which has already reached children through the Tunas Ngrembaka Literacy Corner. With the presence of this learning and creative space for seniors, this program further affirms its vision of realizing Podorejo Village as a Sustainable Smart Village that involves all levels of society, from children to seniors, in a mutually reinforcing empowerment movement.
PPK ORMAWA SGL PGSD Semarang State University Together Empowering, Educating the Nation. Nurturing Literacy, Growing and Inspiring.
