The Role of Department of IKK FEMA IPB to Educate Families Around the Campus

To celebrate the National Family Day on June 29, 2018, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, Bogor Agricultural University (Dept. IKK-FEMA-IPB) held a family consultation service (LINGKAR). LINGKAR was given to the families in the villages around IPB Dramaga Campus, which were Babakan, Dramaga, Cibanteng, Ciherang, Situ Gede, and Tegalwaru.

With the theme "Smart Family, Qualified Family", LINGKAR was held for five days, starting from June 29 to July 4, 2018, which was located in each said villages. Head of Department of IKK, Dr. Tin Herawati, SP, M.Si explained the role of IKK FEMA IPB to educate the families around IPB campus. "In IPB we have Department of IKK, FEMA IPB and what we learn is the family and consumer sciences, because it turns out there is also a science for family. Currently, IPB is the only university in Indonesia that has family studies. Seeing the vulnerability of family functions in Indonesia with the emergence of various family problems, as well as celebrating the National Family Day, Department of IKK wants to do something for the families in the villages around IPB campus through a counselling of family functions," explained Dr. Tin.

The opening of LINGKAR was held in Babakan and Situ Gede on the first day, which was warmly welcomed by the Heads of the Villages and all participants from PKK and Posyanducadres. One of the activities was counseling in optimization of family functions, from religious functions, socio-culture, love, protection, reproduction, socialization and education, economic, and environmental coaching. In addition, there were also face-to face consultations on various family issues, ranging from stress counseling, child development counseling, and family finance management counseling.

"In the current era of globalization, where information and technology are growing rapidly, the family functions get a very powerful challenge. For example, religious function is becoming dynamic and faded in these days, and socio-cultural function must be more consistently applied by parents. The increasingly sophisticated use of technology causes family bond to become more distant. In addition, the economic pressure makes parents to be busy looking for work and forget to run the family functions well," explained Dr.Ir. Diah Krisnatuti MS, lecturer at Department of IKK FEMA IPB.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Euis Sunarti, M.Si as professor of Department of IKK, FEMA, IPB underlined that the eight functions of the family must be known by husband and wife.

"There are functions as a form of consequence when a man and woman are committed to build a family, and it will determine the resilience of the family. Families should recognize the functions of the family so they know what to do in the family and can spread the goodness to the surrounding community," said Prof. Euis.

The benefits of LINGKAR were very much felt by the participants who attended the event, including Umiati as the Head of PKK of Desa Babakan. “This event is great. We gain knowledge about parenting, child development, and how to deal with teenagers in these days. But hopefully there will be a follow-up event for us to learn thoroughly about adolescent life and an advanced program of Sekolah Siaga which was previously delivered," hope Umiati. (RYF)