Altifani Journal: International Journal of Community Engagement
Altifani Journal: International Journal of Community Engagement is an international, multidisciplinary, scholarly, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal that publishes articles on the outcomes of activities and/or community engagement. Managed and published by the Faculty of Agriculture, Muhammadiyah University of Palembang. Altifani Journal releases two issues each year, in June and December. Covers all fields of science regarding scientific applications, social and/or lectures delivered to the public. The fields of science in question are general scientific (environmental, cultural, economic, agricultural, forestry, aquaculture, social, math, physics, chemistry, biology, culture, economics, religion, and medical health and engineering), training and education output enhancement, and development of technology information and communication. JOURNAL IDENTITY Journal Name : Altifani Journal Other Variant Name : International Journal of Community Engagement Print ISSN : 2774-6607 Online ISSN : 2775-4308 Publisher : Muhammadiyah University of Palembang Editorial Address : JL. Jend. A. Yani 13 Ulu Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia Telephone : +62 822-8016-9666 Email : kppfpump@gmail.com First Publication : 2020 Publication Frequency : Triannual (April, August, and December)
Efforts to Improve Mental Health in the Era of Industry 4.0 Through Psychoeducation and Mentoring to Build Positive Self-Concept in Middle School Students
The main theme of this community service activity is the effort to improve mental health in the Era 4.0 through psychoeducation and mentoring to build a positive self-concept among junior high school students. The Industrial Revolution 4.0 era has brought significant changes to the social and emotional lives of adolescents, especially in the use of gadgets, where adolescents can easily access social media, the internet, and digital devices, which in turn can influence how adolescents view themselves, compare themselves to others, and build social relationships. This, of course, also impacts the mental health of school-age adolescents. Therefore, one effort that can be made is to foster an understanding of self-concept among adolescents. Self-concept is a self-evaluation based on one's life, appearance, academics, and other factors. This activity was carried out by providing psychoeducation as well as mentoring through group counseling. The results of this activity have provided students with insights related to positive self-concept, as can be seen from the pre- and post-test results in which the average score increased by 0.625. In addition, counseling activities have enabled students to become more confident and adaptive to technology. It is hoped that this activity will be sustained within the school guidance counseling program and involve guidance counseling teachers.
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Efforts to Increase the Income of the PKK Group in Plaju Darat Urban Village, Palembang City, Through Catfish Stick Diversification
Catfish is a freshwater fishery commodity with significant production levels across various regions, including Plaju Darat Urban Village in Palembang City. Currently, the utilization of catfish is generally limited to simple preparations, such as frying or serving it as a standard daily side dish. However, catfish possesses high nutritional value—particularly protein—making it an excellent candidate for development into various processed food products. One viable strategy is product diversification: processing catfish into snacks like catfish sticks, which offer greater consumer appeal, a longer shelf life, and higher economic value. This community service initiative was conducted to empower the local community, specifically the members of the PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment) group in Plaju Darat. The activity took place at the Plaju Darat Urban Village Office meeting room in Plaju District, Palembang City, in December 2025, with 22 PKK members participating. A group-based approach was employed for the outreach and training. Prior to the activity, most participants were unaware that catfish meat could be processed into various products, such as catfish sticks. The results demonstrated the activity's success, with participants' knowledge increasing by up to 95% based on pre-test and post-test scores. Participants gained insight into the potential of diversifying catfish products into sticks—a value-added item based on local food resources—and acquired the understanding and practical skills needed to produce them.
Enhancing Community Capacity through a Workshop on Diversification and Innovation of Seaweed Nastar Products
Eucheuma cottonii seaweed is a key Indonesian fishery commodity with significant potential for development into value-added food products. However, its utilization by the community remains relatively limited, necessitating empowerment efforts through product diversification. This community service activity aimed to enhance the community's knowledge and skills in processing seaweed into nastar (pineapple tarts) and to foster an entrepreneurial spirit rooted in marine resources. The activity was conducted as a workshop involving the Wijaya Fish group, students, lecturers, and online participants from various institutions. The methods employed included material presentation, demonstrations, hands-on nastar making, business analysis, and evaluation using pre-tests, post-tests, and satisfaction questionnaires. Evaluation results showed an increase in the average score from 9.6 in the pre-test to 10.0 in the post-test; however, the Wilcoxon test indicated that this increase was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), likely due to the participants' high baseline knowledge and the limited number of respondents. The satisfaction evaluation yielded an average score of 4.04 (categorized as good), with the practical demonstration being the aspect most appreciated by participants. Overall, the workshop successfully improved participants' understanding, skills, and motivation regarding the development of value-added seaweed products. This initiative has the potential to support fishery product diversification, enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs, and encourage the sustainable utilization of marine resources
Utilization of Benthos as a Bioindicator of Environmental Health in Aquaculture Ponds at Teratai Putih Emas Fish Farmers Group
Intensive aquaculture activities are prone to environmental quality degradation due to the accumulation of feed residues and organic matter at the pond bottom. One simple approach to monitor aquatic environmental health is through the observation of benthos as a bioindicator. This community service activity aimed to improve the knowledge and awareness of members of Pokdakan Teratai Putih Emas in Kelurahan Empat Belas Ulu, Palembang City, regarding the utilization of benthos as an environmental health indicator for aquaculture ponds. The methods used included initial observation, participatory material delivery, interactive discussion, and participant comprehension evaluation. The activity was attended by 15 Pokdakan members who previously assessed water quality only based on water color and fish condition. Following the activity, participants were able to identify common benthos types (worms, insect larvae, and mollusks) and understand their relationship with bottom water conditions. Evaluation results showed an improvement in participant comprehension of more than 70% based on discussion and question-and-answer sessions. This activity had a positive impact on community awareness in managing aquaculture pond environmental quality sustainably to support fishery productivity.
Innovating Kitchen Waste into Liquid Gold: Rice-Washing Water MOL Innovation for Eco-Friendly Liquid Organic Fertilizer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The problem of kitchen waste, such as vegetable and fruit scraps, in urban areas is increasing with population growth and urbanization in various cities in Malaysia. Furthermore, organic waste such as rice washing water (leri water) is generally discarded, despite its great potential as a raw material for Local Microorganisms (LMICs) in the production of liquid organic fertilizer from kitchen waste. This community service article aims to describe the innovation of processing leri water into environmentally friendly liquid organic fertilizer from kitchen waste through training. This program was implemented at the Muhammadiyah Kepong Guidance Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in January 2026. The methods used were outreach and the production of Leri water MOL. The results of the activity showed an increase in the knowledge and skills of children at the Muhammadiyah Kepong Guidance Center in processing kitchen waste into useful organic fertilizer, supporting household food security, and reducing urban organic waste.
Capacity Building in Flood Contingency Plan Development and Village Disaster Risk Assessment for “Destana” and BPBD of Muara Enim Regency
Flooding is a dominant disaster threat in Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra, particularly in villages along the Enim and Lematang Rivers, while most villages still lack adequate flood contingency plans. This community service activity aimed to build participants’ capacity (knowledge and understanding) of developing village flood contingency plans and conducting village disaster risk assessments. The activity was held on 9–10 July 2026 in Muara Enim, involving 100 participants in two sessions: 50 members of the Disaster-Resilient Village (Destana) and 50 staff of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD). The methods comprised a pre-test, material presentation, interactive discussion and drafting practice, and a post-test; pre- and post-test data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test and Normalized Gain (N-Gain). The results showed that the combined mean score increased from 53.50 to 83.30 (a 55.7% improvement; N-Gain 0.64, moderate category) with a significant difference (p < 0.001). The activity contributed to improving participants’ knowledge; as it employed a single-group design without a comparison group, the results represent post-activity score changes and should be confirmed through continued mentoring and drills.
Strengthening Business Management in the Mina Mandiri Fish Cultivation Group (Pokdakan) and the Maggot Cultivation Group in Panembangan Village, Cilongok, Banyumas
The fish feed production and maggot business managed by the Mina Mandiri fish farming group have quite promising economic prospects. However, for both businesses to develop sustainably, the implementation of planned business management is required. This activity aims to strengthen the management capacity of partner businesses through the development of marketing strategies, the implementation of orderly bookkeeping, and effective and efficient financial management. Partners in this community service activity are the Mina Mandiri Fish Farming and maggot Group in Panembangan Village, Banyumas Regency. The implementation of the activity uses a participatory approach. The series of activities includes socialization, program implementation, mentoring, and evaluation. The success of the program was measured using the one-group pre-test and post-test method. The evaluation results showed that 82.5% of partner members have understood and are able to implement marketing strategies well. In addition, 80% of partner members are able to understand and implement business bookkeeping, while 85% of partner members have understood and implemented financial management more orderly. One significant change resulting from this activity was the establishment of separate business bookkeeping from personal financial records. Although the program has yielded positive results, evaluations of the program indicate the need for further mentoring. The program's sustainability is expected to help partners overcome various challenges in fish feed and maggot production, while strengthening their business management capabilities for sustainable growth.
Training on Organic Fertilizer and Botanical Pesticide Production for Farmer Groups in Talang Jambe Urban Village Sukarami District
Talang Jambe Urban Village in Sukarami District is a key center for vegetable farming in Palembang City. However, vegetable production remains low due to poor soil fertility and pest infestations. Vegetable farmers rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers causes soil hardening and inhibits root development, thereby impairing nutrient absorption. Conversely, continuous application of synthetic pesticides often leads to increased pest infestations. Therefore, it is necessary to improve soil fertility and manage pests using organic materials. This initiative was carried out at the *Kampung Kreatif* (Creative Village) in Talang Jambe, Sukarami District, Palembang. The activity methods included 1) surveys, site observations, and identification of partner issues; 2) outreach/dissemination; and 3) training, guidance, and mentoring. The training resulted in the production of 50 kg of compost and 35 liters of botanical pesticides. Participants demonstrated increased knowledge regarding organic fertilizers (76%), raw materials for organic fertilizers (76%), the production process (78%), and the benefits of organic fertilizers (32%). Similarly, knowledge regarding botanical pesticides increased by 66%, raw materials by 77%, the production process by 84%, and benefits by 26%. This activity effectively addresses issues related to soil fertility and vegetable pests.
Strengthening Banyumas Javanese Script Literacy in Ketoprak and Macapat Groups as Agents of Local Cultural Preservation
Pakunden Village, Banyumas District, Banyumas Regency, is a creative-based tourism village. This village has several advantages in the fields of art and traditional food. The art groups owned include the Ketoprak Art Group and the Macapat Art Group. The problem faced is the decline in productivity of ketoprak and macapat works due to the decline in literacy and transliteration of Banyumas Javanese script. This program aims to strengthen the literacy skills of Banyumas Javanese script in ketoprak and macapat art groups so that they can play an effective role as agents of local cultural preservation. This program uses a participatory approach method, namely partners are involved in every activity. The stages of activities that will be implemented include socialization, training, implementation of science and technology, mentoring and evaluation, and program sustainability. The indicator of program success is a minimum of 80% of partner members are able to understand and implement Banyumas Javanese script literacy well. The results of the community service activities showed that 85% of partner members were able to read Banyumas Javanese script, 82.5% of partner members were able to write Banyumas Javanese script, and 80% of partner members were able to transliterate Banyumas Javanese script, all exceeding the 80% target. The evaluation results indicate the need for continued program support to assist partners in strengthening Banyumas Javanese script literacy.
Training on the Utilization of Petai Peels as Biopesticides for Pest and Disease Management in Sungai Rotan Village Ogan Ilir District
Utilizing organic household waste can be an environmentally friendly alternative for controlling plant pests (OPT). This educational activity aims to increase public knowledge regarding the use of petai peel waste (Parkia speciosa) as a biopesticide ingredient and how to apply it to cultivated plants for sustainable agriculture in Sungai Rotan Village, Ogan Ilir Regency. The activity method is carried out through counseling, discussion and demonstration of making biopesticide from petai peel. The results of the activity showed an increase in public understanding about household waste management and its use as a natural pesticide with an increase in the pre-test score is 40 to post-test score is 80. This activity was attended by 50 participants consisting of farming communities in Sungai Rotan Village and KKN students. It is hoped that the use of petai peel as a biopesticide can support more environmentally friendly agricultural practices and reduce dependence on chemical pesticides.
Experiential Learning-Based Character Makeup Training to Enhance Visual Creativity and Acting Skills for Students at SMK Sumbangsih Multimedia
The creative industry requires human resources who possess not only technical skills but also creativity, collaborative abilities, and artistic competencies that are relevant to the development of visual media. One of the competencies that supports the fields of performing arts and multimedia production is character make-up artistry. However, extracurricular acting programs in vocational high schools generally focus on acting skills, while supporting competencies such as character make-up have not received adequate attention. This community engagement program aimed to enhance students’ knowledge, technical skills, visual creativity, and self-confidence through experiential learning-based character make-up training. The program was conducted at SMK Sumbangsih Multimedia, South Jakarta, involving 18 students from Grades X and XI. The methods employed included demonstrations, discussions and evaluations, conceptual understanding of basic character make-up principles, as well as the application and development of the techniques learned. The results indicated improvements in participants’ understanding of character make-up concepts, technical proficiency in character make-up application, visual creativity, self-confidence, and teamwork. Furthermore, the training contributed to strengthening extracurricular acting activities by integrating character make-up skills with the multimedia competencies possessed by the students. Therefore, character make-up training can serve as an effective strategy for developing the creative competencies of vocational high school students.