BISNISTIME.COM, JAKARTA – On Friday (October 11, 2024), Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 (UTA’45) Jakarta organized a Community Service Program, as part of the university’s Tridharma mandate that encourages lecturers to engage in community service. Under the scheme of Community Partnership Empowerment, the team from UTA’45 Jakarta, funded by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbud Ristek), collaborated with the Gaga Lestari group located in Pantai Sederhana Village, Muara Gembong, Bekasi. The team was led by Fauziah, a lecturer from the Communication Studies program, with two other members: Andi Saidah, a lecturer from Mechanical Engineering, and Bobby Reza, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies (FEBIS) at UTA’45 Jakarta and a lecturer of Digital Business.
Bobby Reza, the Dean of FEBIS UTA’45 Jakarta, highlighted that the theme of the Community Service Program, “Developing Bandeng Presto Business in Pantai Sederhana Village, Muara Gembong, to Enhance Sales through Digital Marketing”, aims to help boost the local economy and create sustainable outcomes. He expressed his hopes that the partnership would make a significant impact on the livelihood of the local community.
Developing Bandeng Presto Business in Pantai Sederhana Village, Muara Gembong, to Enhance Sales through Digital Marketing.
Fauziah, the lead coordinator from the Communication Studies department, elaborated on the economic conditions of the Pantai Sederhana Village. The majority of the villagers are fish farmers, and the area is known for its abundant supply of milkfish (bandeng). However, the income they generate from their fish farming activities is often just enough to cover their daily needs. The limited ability to process milkfish into marketable and high-value products has posed a challenge, which the UTA’45 team is determined to address through the community service project.
The implementation of the program, which began in August 2024, has been running smoothly in Pantai Sederhana Village. The project started with a site survey and focus group discussions (FGD) with local village officials. From these meetings, the team identified several key actions and support needed by their community partners. The project then progressed with socialization efforts, training, and guidance, including halal certification, product labeling, and education on using digital marketing to promote local products.
Umar, the supervisor of the Gaga Lestari Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), explained, “The formation of the Gaga Lestari group aims to assist the local economy, especially for women, so they can generate their own income and support their families.” Saipul Bahri, the head of the Gaga Lestari group, added, “With the establishment of Gaga Lestari, I hope my household’s economy will improve, and that the women in our group will become more creative in processing milkfish.”
Fauziah, the leader of the UTA’45 Jakarta PKM team, emphasized that the partnership program aims to be sustainable and contribute to the long-term economic growth of families in Pantai Sederhana Village. Additionally, she hopes the community will embrace technology by using gadgets to market their milkfish products online.
The training and socialization sessions were highly interactive, with participants showing great enthusiasm and asking many questions about sustainable business practices and the development of the Bandeng Presto business. Fauziah concluded the event, expressing optimism for the future success of the partnership.
This collaborative effort reflects the ongoing commitment of UTA’45 Jakarta to empowering communities and helping local businesses thrive through modern marketing strategies and product development techniques.
