Darmabakti: Jurnal Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat

Making biopackaging from paper and leaf waste for women in the family welfare empowerment program and early childhood education teachers

Rahmatullah Rahmatullah — 2026-06-13

Various creative approaches can be developed to reduce the generation of both organic and inorganic waste. On the other hand, office and school paper waste, as well as plant matter such as dry leaves, are still not being utilized optimally. Biopack is an innovative cardboard container made from a mixture of paper pulp and dry leaves. This product can be used as eco-friendly packaging because it easily degrades when disposed of in soil or water after use. School paper waste and dry leaves available in the Wanaasri Palembang area hold significant potential as raw materials for Biopack. Utilizing this potential is expected to increase public awareness, particularly among the PKK Rumah Cinta Dahlia Wanaasri and the teachers at PAUD Permata Bunda, as key drivers in promoting the innovation of waste management into economically valuable products that can support the establishment of community-based businesses or entrepreneurship. This community service activity was carried out through outreach and a biopack-making demonstration using lectures and hands-on simulations. The evaluation was conducted through a questionnaire to analyze the level of effectiveness and the potential for sustainability of the activity. Survey results from activity participants revealed that 93% were not yet able to recycle used paper and leaves, 63% still disposed of used paper and leaves in trash bins, and 93–100% of participants rated the activity as beneficial, noting that it broadened their knowledge and understanding of making biopack from used paper and leaves, and that they liked the biopack products and were able to use them at home. Furthermore, it is hoped that the Wanaasri community will be able to produce its own biopack, that it will be adopted by teachers at the Permata Bunda Early Childhood Education Center as a teaching aid in the learning process, and that it will eventually be commercialized.

Strengthening editorial competencies and DOAJ-based journal governance through a training program at STIKES Vincentius A Paulo Surabaya

Ni Nyoman Wahyu Lestarina — 2026-06-13

The management of high-quality scientific journals continues to face numerous challenges. This community service activity aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program designed to improve participants’ understanding of DOAJ standards and national journal accreditation. This community service activity employed a pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design. In the initial phase, 16 participants took a pretest to assess their baseline knowledge; subsequently, they participated in a training session comprising material delivery and interactive discussions. After the activity concluded, a posttest was administered to measure the participants’ improved understanding. Data analysis to test the significance of differences before and after the training used the Wilcoxon test. Descriptive analysis results indicated an increase in the average score from 112.5 to 146.3 on the final knowledge test. Based on the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, a Z-value of -3.237 was obtained (p = 0.001, p < 0.05), indicating that training on scientific journal management in accordance with DOAJ standards and national accreditation standards significantly improved participants’ understanding. Furthermore, the effect size indicated by the matched-rank biserial correlation of -0.950 suggests that the training’s impact falls into the very large category. The training not only enhanced participants’ knowledge of open access principles, policy transparency, and editorial governance but also standardized their understanding, resulting in a more consistent level of understanding among participants.

Community-based production of dragon fruit and red spinach gummies to support stunting prevention among preschool children

Rizka Wulandari Putri — 2026-06-13

Stunting remains a major nutritional challenge among Indonesian children and requires community-based interventions that promote healthy dietary practices. This community service program aimed to improve the knowledge and skills of members of the Rumah Cinta Dahlia Family Welfare Movement (PKK) in producing healthy gummies made from dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and red spinach as an alternative nutritious snack to support stunting prevention among children. The program involved nutrition education, practical training in gummy production, and evaluation through pre- and post-tests. A total of 46 PKK members participated in the activity. During the training, participants learned how to use lemon and citric acid as preservatives. The resulting gummies were then evaluated for texture, taste, aroma, appearance, shelf life, and consumer preference. The gummy production process involved mixing dragon fruit juice, red spinach extract, gelatin, and preservative agents, followed by molding and refrigerated storage for 35 days. The results showed that the proportion of participants with high knowledge increased from 65% before the intervention to 100% after the training. Sensory evaluation indicated that gummies preserved with lemon were preferred by 70% of participants, while 30% preferred those preserved with citric acid. The findings indicate that lemon may serve as a suitable natural preservative with good consumer acceptance and storage stability. Overall, the program successfully improved participants’ knowledge and practical skills in preparing nutritious food products and demonstrated the potential of dragon fruit and red spinach gummies as an innovative snack to support household-level stunting prevention efforts.

Strengthening self-regulation and future orientation to improve discipline and educational motivation among adolescents at Wira Adhi Karya Social Service Home

Amalia Sarifatussalma — 2026-07-10

Adolescence is a crucial transitional period leading into adulthood. Adolescents, especially those in vulnerable socioeconomic circumstances, tend to experience challenges related to self-regulation. A program focused on strengthening self-regulation and future planning was implemented to improve discipline and motivation to learn among adolescent beneficiaries at the Wira Adhi Karya Social Service Center. These activities aim to help participants recognize their potential, develop plans, and manage their emotions more adaptively. The methods used include psychoeducation, interactive discussions, educational games, and reflection sessions involving 20 participants. The program was implemented through two main activities: PATHFINDER: Discovering Direction and Designing the Future, and Emotion Smart: Recognize–Control–Express. The program’s effectiveness was evaluated through post-activity interviews to assess participants’ understanding. The results showed an increase in participants’ understanding of how to recognize their own potential, set future goals, and understand emotion management strategies. The program proved effective in increasing participants’ active engagement in self-regulation and motivation, as well as providing practical insights into self-regulation. However, ongoing support remains necessary to ensure participants can consistently apply these skills in their daily lives.