Jember, en.SERU.co.id — In a bold move to tackle poverty, 3,000 students from dozens of universities across Jember Regency have been sent directly into villages as part of the 2026 Collaborative Community Service Program (KKN Kolaboratif).
Regent Muhammad Fawait officially launched the initiative at Jember Town Square on Sunday (July 19, 2026). The program carries a meaningful theme: “Desa Cinta” — an acronym for Desa Pendataan Akurat, Kemiskinan Tuntas (Accurate Village Data Collection, Poverty Completely Eradicated).
Speaking at the event, the young regent, popularly known as Gus Fawait, called on students to move beyond criticism and become real agents of change.
“We shouldn’t just be good at criticizing or even insulting others. We need to offer concrete solutions,” he said.
Door-to-Door Data Validation
The main mission of this year’s KKN is to reform and validate poverty data at the village level. Students will go door-to-door to ensure residents in the lowest welfare bracket (decile 2) are accurately recorded.
“When the government wants to eradicate poverty, it must give aid to the right people, those who truly deserve it,” Gus Fawait explained.
Jember is widely known as an education hub with around 31 universities. However, it also ranks second in East Java for the highest number of people living in absolute poverty, just behind Malang Regency.
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“This paradox must be resolved immediately. Through the collaboration of these 3,000 students, we want to prove that our big universities can become the main drivers in lowering poverty rates,” the regent said.
Gus Fawait expressed pride in the enthusiastic participation of university rectors and their institutions. He also reminded the students to uphold their alma mater’s good name while working with local communities.
“The reputation of your universities rests on your shoulders,” he said. (sgt/mzm)
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