Students from the Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI) carried out a Community Service program in Beji Timur Village, Depok on Sunday (15/10). This activity was funded by the UI 2022 Independent Campus Competition Program (PKKM).
The activities of FTUI students who are members of the Chemical Engineering Student Association (IMTK) and the UI Society for Biological Engineering (SBE) collaborate with the Management of RT 02 RW 01 Beji Timur Village, Depok, and collaborate with Students of the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA ) UI and the Nusantara Youth Development Foundation (Biman). In this community service activity, the students provided training and education to residents of the East Beji sub-district regarding the manufacturing process, as well as marketing techniques for oil-based bar soap.
This community service activity was also attended by 20 participants from the RT 02 RW 01 Beji Timur Village. The activity was opened by inviting all those present to sing the Indonesia Raya song, remarks from the Head of the Chemical Engineering Department, Universitas Indonesia, Dr. Bambang Heru Susanto, S.T., M.T. and Ahmad Subana, SM, Secretary of the East Beji Village and Head of the Community and Service Section representing the Beji Timur Village Head, Deasy Martini, SKM.
In his remarks, Dr. Bambang Heru Susanto said that this activity was a means to support student activities to be able to interact more closely with the community and collaborate with community activists who had a lot of work such as the Biman Foundation.
“By carrying out this activity, it is hoped that the participants will be able to gain insight and knowledge regarding the use of available and easy-to-obtain ingredients to be utilized in making bar soap independently which besides being able to be used for personal and family needs, it is also possible to market it so that it can increase income.” family,” said Dr. Bambang Heru.
Deasy Martini, SKM in his speech expressed his appreciation for the implementation of community service activities held by Chemical Engineering Department Students of FTUI and hoped that activities like this would further increase attention and cooperation between the Depok City Government and UI in the future with sustainable programs.
“In this community service activity, UI students delivered material related to definitions, uses, types, materials and uses, to the process of making bar soap. In addition to the technical aspects of making bar soap, basic knowledge was also conveyed regarding safety aspects in the process of making bar soap. and material on business strategy. It is hoped that in the future it will be able to provide business opportunities for the people of East Beji to increase family income,” said the Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah., ST., M.Eng., IPU.
The use of latex or rubber gloves and masks is the most important. UI students educate participants that if they are splashed with caustic soda (NaOH) solution rinse immediately with running water for 10-15 minutes. If caustic soda (NaOH) is accidentally inhaled, it is advisable to immediately go to an open room to get fresh air. And providing material regarding tips and rules for starting a business, such as how to research the product you want to sell through the first stage, namely determining the type of business, and how to position the businessman himself as a producer and consumer. Then, conduct research regarding the advantages and uniqueness of the product, and look at the budget and promotion strategy when starting a bar soap business.
Before the event was closed, participants were asked to fill out a post-test that had been provided by the committee to measure the extent to which the knowledge conveyed could be understood. From the results of the post-test conducted, it was found that there was an increase in understanding regarding bar soap and its business opportunities to 82% from 73% during the pre-test.
The enthusiasm and satisfaction of the Beji Timur Village residents were evident from the evaluation they filled in where 95% of the participants were very satisfied with this bar soap-making training.
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Bureau of Public Communications
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia