Villagers need the benefits of technology and to have their spirits uplifted by youth so they can develop, Village and Disadvantaged Regions Development Minister Ahmad Riza Patria said here on Friday.
For example, one such beneficial innovation is an incinerator from one student undergoing a public services (KKN) program. The technology is able to burn garbage piles while producing minimal smoke, he explained.
"This simple tool went viral, and it gives a tangible benefit. Which means that even without huge funding, we can offer a solution for villagers," the minister stated.
The minister has called for non-civil servant Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education Agency (LPDP) alumni to come back to the villages they came from and put their knowledge to good use for the greater good.
He made the statement during the second day of a briefing for the LPDP Non-State Apparatus Services Program (PANA-LPDP)
"Many people undergo higher education, receive titles, and pursue careers in metropolitan cities. However, few have the call to come back to villages, feel what the villagers feel, and dedicate themselves," he noted.
He has expressed the opinion that villages are the future of Indonesia, as they have plenty of potential that can be tapped into for national development. The potential ranges from local wisdom, food resilience, energy, culture, and values of togetherness and collaboration.
Hence, scholars' role is vital in spurring change from the ground up, he noted.
"The knowledge you have should not be kept to yourselves, but materialized into real work in the village. Be the light that guides towards change for people," Patria said.
PANA-LPDP focuses on enhancing village tourism capacity and promoting sustainable tourism. The program aims to advance village and regional development using socio-cultural and organizational strategies.
A total of 24 alumni — 21 from domestic universities and three from foreign institutions — will serve in four villages in Sumba Barat Daya District, East Nusa Tenggara: Karuni, Watu Kawula, Maliti Bondoate, and Pero Konda.
The six-month program aims to build the alumni’s understanding of development challenges in rural areas while supporting local governments in promoting sustainable tourism.
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Translator: Tri Meilani Ameliya, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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