Semarang State University (UNNES), through the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), has launched a community service program focused on political education for young people. This initiative is part of UNNES’s commitment to advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
The program was led by Bambang Hermanto, S.Pd., M.IP., a lecturer at FISIP UNNES, under the theme “Political Education for Students of SMA Negeri 2 Brebes as an Effort to Increase Voter Participation in Brebes Regency.” The activity was held on August 12, 2025, at the Meeting Hall of SMA Negeri 2 Brebes.
In this session, UNNES invited high-achieving student Ramanda Bima Prayuda, the 1st Place Winner and Best Speaker at the National Student Political Debate Competition, to share insights as a guest speaker. His presence was expected to inspire and motivate students to recognize the importance of youth involvement in strengthening democracy.
The participants were active students from SMA Negeri 2 Brebes, engaged in various school organizations such as OSIS (Student Council), Scouts, PMR (Youth Red Cross), and Tonsus. They participated enthusiastically in discussions and Q&A sessions. One of the students, Aurelia, an 11th-grade student and OSIS board member, asked a critical question on how power should be exercised to bring positive change to society.
“Political education should be introduced early to help first-time voters develop critical awareness, become intelligent voters, and contribute to improving the quality of democracy in Indonesia,” explained Bambang Hermanto.
As a token of appreciation, all participants received souvenirs, and students who actively asked questions were awarded special door prizes. The event not only enriched students’ political knowledge but also encouraged them to actively engage in democratic processes.
This program is part of the FISIP UNNES Community Service initiative funded by the FISIP UNNES DPA in 2025. The Community Service Team consisted of M. Fikri Amrullah, Stanley Khu, Lavia Permatasari, Nur’aini Fadlilah, and Balqis Azwa.
Through this initiative, UNNES reaffirms its role as a higher education institution committed to political education and democratic development in the region, while contributing to the realization of inclusive and sustainable democracy in line with the spirit of SDG 16.
