Social Service Communication Vaganza 2023: One Small Step for Big Change

Sunday, August 27 2023, the Opening of the 2023 Communication Vaganza Social Service was carried out at the Bali Children's Lentera Foundation which took place on the 3rd Floor of Pasar Kumbasari, Denpasar. This activity was held by the Student Association of the Udayana University Communication Study Program with the theme "Through Rhythms of Ocean to Relieve The Wanderlust Era."

Communication Vaganza is one of the work programs of the Udayana University Communication Science Student Association, which was held to celebrate the anniversary of HIMANIKA. In 2023, the COMMVAG event will be held again to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the Communication Studies Program at Udayana University. The COMMVAG event itself consists of several series, namely social service, Comm Super Cup Futsal Competition, Communication Vaganza Dance Competition, Community Got Talent, and Communication Night.

The first series of events at this social service were opened directly by Ida Ayu Putu Puniadi as Chairperson of the Bali Children's Lantern Foundation, I Dewa Ayu Sugiarica Joni, S.Sos., M.A., as Coordinator of the Communication Science Study Program, I Made Doddy Krisna Prayogha as Chair The COMMVAG Committee, and Putu Bagas Yanuar Suwardana as Chair of HIMANIKA. Furthermore, the event continued with the presentation of a certificate by Ms. I Dewa Ayu Sugiarica Joni as Coordinator of the Communication Studies Program to Ida Ayu Putu Puniadi as General Chair of the Bali Children's Lentera Foundation.

Even though this event took place on a holiday, the children who came were very enthusiastic and enthusiastic about learning calistung (reading, writing and arithmetic) and English taught by fellow teachers. Apart from being attended by children from elementary to high school, it turned out that this activity was also attended by a mother who had a great passion for learning to read by being taught specifically by volunteers from the Bali Social Project.

The learning activities began with the division into two groups with different materials, namely calistung and English, each of which was assisted by teachers from Udayana University Communication Studies Students and volunteers from the Bali Social Project. Groups with children in grades 1, 2 and 3 of elementary school received calistung material (reading, writing, arithmetic), while groups with grades 4 elementary to high school/vocational school received English material.

The teacher explains calistung and English material in easy-to-understand language and uses the question and answer method to review the material that has been provided. What's more, the children who actively ask, answer, and present the results of the material they have obtained will receive prizes in the form of snacks or snacks from the teacher.

In the calistung group, the teacher provided material in the form of learning to write the alphabet written on a notebook and learning to spell words that the teacher had prepared. Meanwhile, in the English group, the teacher instructed the children to introduce themselves using English. The children were excited to make notes on notebooks to translate word for word the introductions they would present in front of their other friends.

The study session is over. The presenter directed the children to line up neatly for a group photo session which was then followed by the distribution of snacks from HIMANIKA and rice packets from Lentera Anak Bali. With happy feelings, the children can't wait to take part in the next lesson in the second week.

Through teaching activities at the Bali Children's Lantern Foundation, enthusiasm is not only seen from small children, but also adults because it is never too late to learn. "In the future, it is hoped that this activity will always be held every year so that it can be a motivation and education for the community," said Ms. Ida Joni as the Coordinator of the Communication Studies Program at Udayana University. Hopefully holding this activity can be the first step in making people aware of the importance of education so that it can motivate the community itself that big changes can start from small steps.