From Students to the Community
The Aquaculture Student Association (HIMAKUA) of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine (FPK) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), through its Social Community Service Department (SPM), organized AQUACARE 2026 on August 14–16, 2026, in Pucukan Hamlet. The program was attended by 28 students and accompanied by two lecturers, Daruti Dinda Nindarwi, S.Pi., M.P., and Muhammad Hanif Azhar, S.Pi., M.Si., Ph.D. AQUACARE 2026 was designed as a community service program that provided students with opportunities to engage directly with local residents through educational activities, environmental actions, health promotion, and literacy initiatives. Through these activities, students gained firsthand insights into the social and environmental conditions of the Pucukan Hamlet community.
Three Days of Action with AQUACARE 2026
The AQUACARE 2026 series began on August 14, 2026, with the students’ departure for Pucukan Hamlet. Upon arrival, the students and accompanying lecturers conducted sowan warga, a community visit aimed at building rapport and establishing initial communication with local residents. The activities continued with social mapping to explore the social conditions, environmental characteristics, and potential of Pucukan Hamlet. Students also participated in mangrove planting as a form of environmental awareness and an effort to support coastal ecosystem conservation. On the same day, AQUACARE Mengajar featured an activity to create pencil holders from used straws with local children, encouraging creativity while introducing the importance of reusing waste materials.
The following day, August 15, 2026, AQUACARE Mengajar was held at SDN Gebang II Pucukan. The activity included an interactive session on the values of Pancasila, followed by a guessing game featuring freshwater and marine fish. The activities provided an enjoyable learning experience while introducing children to fish and aquatic environments. The educational program continued with a session on Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS), accompanied by a handwashing practice. This activity aimed to strengthen children’s awareness of personal hygiene and the importance of adopting healthy habits in their daily lives.
On the third day, August 16, 2026, the activities began with a morning exercise session followed by an environmental clean-up around the community area. The activity reflected the shared commitment of students and residents to maintaining a clean and healthy environment. The program continued with AQUACARE Corner, which showcased the outcomes of the activities and marked the inauguration of the Reading Corner. The Reading Corner was established as a learning space to support educational activities and encourage reading interest among children in Pucukan Hamlet. The entire program concluded with a closing ceremony and the presentation of a commemorative plaque before the students returned to FPK UNAIR.
More Than Community Service
AQUACARE was not merely a form of student contribution to the community, but also a meaningful opportunity for students to learn and collaborate directly with local residents. The various activities addressed education, health, environmental conservation, and literacy, creating a comprehensive community service experience. Through these activities, students were encouraged to apply their academic knowledge while developing a stronger sense of social responsibility and environmental awareness. The experience also strengthened the role of students as partners in supporting community development and environmental sustainability in Pucukan Hamlet.
AQUACARE 2026 contributes to the achievement of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being through the promotion of Clean and Healthy Living Behavior and handwashing practices; SDG 4: Quality Education through AQUACARE Mengajar and the establishment of the Reading Corner; SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 14: Life Below Water through mangrove planting and coastal environmental clean-up activities as efforts to mitigate climate change and preserve coastal and marine ecosystems. The program also supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration among students, accompanying lecturers, local residents, community leaders, and other stakeholders involved in the program. Therefore, AQUACARE 2026 serves not only as a community service initiative but also as a collaborative platform to strengthen awareness of education, health, and environmental sustainability in Pucukan Hamlet.
Writer: Putri Agis Khoirunnisa
Editor : Alejandro Ahmad Zuhayr
