Semarang, July 19, 2026 – The Scholarship Student Association (KAMABEA) of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), carried out the Community Service Program for Impactful Student Organizations under the DPA LPPM FMIPA UNNES 2026 at Al-Idris Childcare Social Foundation, Semarang. The activity, themed “Empowering Abandoned Children’s Communities through Socioplay-Based Ethnogame and Ecobrick Production as a Sustainable Digital Detox Strategy,” aimed to improve children’s social interaction through traditional games while fostering environmental awareness through the utilization of plastic waste into ecobricks.
The activity was officially opened by the Head of the Community Service Program for Impactful Student Organizations under DPA LPPM FMIPA UNNES 2026, Yahya Nur Ifriza, S.Pd., M.Kom. In his remarks, he stated that higher education institutions have a responsibility to provide real solutions for society through impactful community service activities.
“Through this activity, we want to create an enjoyable learning space for children through traditional games combined with environmental education. We hope they gain new experiences, are encouraged to reduce dependence on gadgets, improve social interaction, and understand that plastic waste can be processed into something useful through ecobrick production,” said Yahya Nur Ifriza, S.Pd., M.Kom.
The management of Al-Idris Foundation, represented by Muhammad Syafii, also expressed appreciation for the implementation of the activity. According to him, collaboration between higher education institutions and orphanages is a positive step in providing meaningful learning experiences for children.
“We would like to thank KAMABEA FMIPA UNNES for accompanying the children in this activity. Hopefully, through socioplay and ecobrick production, the children will become more creative, accustomed to processing waste into something useful, and this activity will bring benefits and blessings to Universitas Negeri Semarang and Al-Idris Foundation,” said Muhammad Syafii.
As a form of shared commitment to building sustainable partnerships, the activity continued with a collaboration agenda. The procession became a symbol of cooperation between the university and its partner in supporting the implementation of a sustainable community service program.
The technology handover and the signing of the Implementation Agreement served as symbols of the cooperation commitment between KAMABEA FMIPA UNNES and Al-Idris Childcare Social Foundation in supporting a sustainable community service program.
Entering the main session, participants joined a series of Socioplay activities designed to build communication, cooperation, and social interaction through various group activities. The activity then continued with Ethnogame through traditional games, such as coconut shell stilts and bakiak, which trained teamwork, sportsmanship, and cooperation skills.
Children from Al-Idris Childcare Social Foundation participated in traditional games during the ethnogam session as part of strengthening social interaction, teamwork, sportsmanship, and cooperation.
These traditional games served as enjoyable alternative activities while supporting the effort of digital detox, encouraging children to interact more actively in person rather than spending time with gadgets.
In addition to traditional games, participants also joined the practice of producing ecobricks by compacting plastic waste into plastic bottles until it became reusable material. Through this activity, participants were introduced to the concept of waste management based on the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R) as a simple step in preserving the environment.
Children participated in the practice of making ecobricks from plastic waste as part of waste management education based on the 3R principle.
The children’s enthusiasm was visible throughout the activity. They actively took part in every session, from group games to the practice of making ecobricks. One participant said that they really enjoyed the traditional games introduced by the committee.
“What I like the most is playing bakiak because I can play together with my friends. Playing coconut shell stilts is also fun, but I prefer bamboo stilts,” said one participant.
One participant tried a traditional game during the ethnogame activity organized by KAMABEA FMIPA UNNES.
This community service activity also supported the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) through the implementation of a digital detox strategy that encouraged physical activity and children’s social interaction, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through experiential learning, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through education on plastic waste management into ecobricks, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration among KAMABEA FMIPA UNNES, LPPM FMIPA UNNES, and Al-Idris Childcare Social Foundation in organizing a community empowerment program.
This activity became a concrete implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education through community service that not only provided benefits for partners, but also served as a means for students to apply knowledge and build social and environmental awareness. Through sustainable collaboration, KAMABEA FMIPA UNNES hopes that similar programs can continue to be developed to create broader positive impacts for society.
