East Nusa Tenggara – (Wednesday, 17/09/2025) Universitas Gadjah Mada Faculty of Law (FH UGM), through the Legal Aid and Consultation Center (PKBH), continued its flagship community service program in East Nusa Tenggara in collaboration with Desamind and the Faculty of Law at Universitas Katolik Widya Mandira (FH Unwira). On the second day, the program focused on legal counseling involving local government officials, particularly the Sub-District Head of South Amfoang and his staff, and was held at SD Negeri 2 Lelogama, Lelogama Village, South Amfoang Sub-District, Kupang Regency. This collaboration applied a multiple helix approach by engaging academia, government, and local communities to foster legal awareness. In addition, the program received support from Sinarmas Mining, which is committed to making tangible contributions to community service through its partnership with FH UGM.
The second-day agenda was attended by various parties, including FH UGM, FH Unwira, Desamind, the South Amfoang Subdistrict Head, and the local community, including students of SD Negeri 2 Lelogama and their parents. The FH UGM team consisted of Prof. Dr. Heribertus Jaka Triyana, S.H., LL.M., M.A. (Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, and Information Systems), Dr. Dra. Dani Krisnawati, S.H., M.Hum. (Head of PKBH and Lecturer in the Criminal Law Department), Andy Omara, S.H., M.Pub&Int.Law., Ph.D. (Lecturer in the Constitutional Law Department), Almonika Cindy Fatika Sari, S.H., M.A. (Lecturer in the Customary Law Department), and Sahl Radian Setyaki (PKBH part-time representative). FH Unwira was represented by lecturers Rudolfus Tallan, S.H., M.H., Mary Grace Megumi Maran, S.H., M.H., Yohanes Leonardus Ngompat, S.H., M.H., and Dr. Ferdinandus Ngau Lobo, S.H., M.H. The successful execution of this agenda was also made possible through the cooperation of Aat Rahmawati from Desamind and Mr. Yan Tamoes, the South Amfoang Subdistrict Head.
The activity began with the planting of red water apple trees in the yard of SD Negeri 2 Lelogama by the FH UGM team together with Mr. Yan Tamoes. “It is a joy and an honor for us, as this is the first time UGM has come to carry out community service and legal outreach in South Amfoang Subdistrict,” said Mr. Yan Tamoes.
The main agenda, a legal counseling session, followed from 10:00 to 13:00 WITA, beginning with welcoming remarks from FH UGM. “The Faculty of Law UGM is grateful for the opportunity to carry out flagship community service in Lelogama Village, which this year has been a primary program of our Dean, Mrs. Dahliana Hasan, S.H., M.Tax., Ph.D., as a manifestation of the university’s Tri Dharma that delivers tangible benefits to society,” stated Prof. Heribertus Jaka Triyana.
The legal counseling session carried the overarching theme of Human Rights. It was delivered by Dr. Dani Krisnawati, S.H., M.Hum., focusing on “Human Rights for Children,” and Rudolfus Tallan, S.H., M.H., who presented “Child Abuse from the Perspective of Atoin Meto Indigenous Law,” moderated by Desamind representative Aat Rahmawati.
A brief story: Aat Rahmawati is a young volunteer teacher from the Pi Mengajar (Pijar) program by CT ARSA Foundation. Her dream of teaching and accompanying children has been with her since the sixth grade of elementary school. Through Pijar, Aat became one of the selected volunteers sent to serve in remote areas for a year. The program’s noble aim is to improve education quality, empower rural communities, and develop local potential in areas with limited educational access. Beyond teaching duties, Aat is known as an adaptive figure who integrated herself with the local community throughout her service in Lelogama Village. Her active participation was demonstrated through concrete actions in various community activities. Aat’s story is not just a biography but an inspiration—a testament to her sincerity and spirit of service that paved the way for dreams to be realized and constructive impacts to be achieved for communities in need.
The legal counseling session, attended by around 40 participants, proceeded smoothly and proactively through presentations and Q&A sessions. Beyond normative aspects, the materials delivered were based on real-life experiences and community patterns. “Legally, reducing children’s dependence on gadgets is part of their rights and protections guaranteed under the Child Protection Act and related regulations. It is a shared responsibility, especially for parents, to supervise, limit, and educate children to ensure the healthy use of technology and gadgets,” emphasized Dr. Dani Krisnawati, S.H., M.Hum. during the discussion session
The event’s implementation reflects a tangible realization of the Tri Dharma of higher education, delivering concrete impacts on society. “Our hope is that by participating in this activity, it becomes an achievement for us to understand and anticipate the practices that will occur within our environment here, especially in South Amfoang Subdistrict,” said Pastor Gladys.
The second day of this flagship community service activity is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. The legal counseling on human rights and child protection directly contributes to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, by promoting more inclusive legal protection and raising community awareness of legal issues at the local level. It also represents a concrete effort toward SDG 4: Quality Education through outreach activities for students and teachers on Human Rights.
The tree planting activity within the school environment further supports SDG 15: Life on Land, reinforcing the commitment to environmental preservation from an early age through tangible action. In addition, the involvement of multiple stakeholders—including FH UGM and FH Unwira academics, local government, community members, and private partners—reflects the implementation of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which emphasizes the importance of collaboration among various elements in building a sustainable society. Thus, this activity not only strengthens the community’s legal capacity but also makes a meaningful contribution to sustainable development in Indonesia’s border regions.
Authors: Benediktus Concilio Sinaga, Sahl Radian Setyaki, Adetia Surya Maulana (PKBH Faculty of Law UGM)
