International Journal of Community Empowerment

Improving Critical Thinking and English Communication Skills Through World Schools Debate Championship (WDSC) Training at SMA Negeri 1 Ambarawa

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Critical thinking and English communication skills are essential competencies for senior high school students, particularly those enrolled in language majors and English club, as they support academic achievement and active participation global discourse. Debate activities, especially those adopting the World Schools Debate Championship (WSDC) approach, provide a structured platform to develop argumentation, reasoning and effective oral communication in English. This community service program aimed to enhance student’s critical thinking and English communication skills through debate training based on the World Schools Debate Championship (WSDC). The program employed a service-learning method with a training and mentoring approach, actively involving lecturers and students in the implementation process. The training consisted of the introduction of fundamental debate concepts, WSDC debate mechanisms, argument construction and rebuttal strategies, followed by guided debate practice sessions. The results indicated that participants demonstrated improved critical thinking skills, greater confidence in expressing arguments and increased fluency and clarity in English communication. Overall, debate training based on the World Schools Debate Championship (WSDC) effectively contributed to the development of critical thinking and English communication skills among senior high school students in language majors and English club.

Integrating Educational Social Media to Improve English Public Speaking and Digital Literacy among Vocational School Students in Semarang Regency

Dewi Rosnita Hardiany; Mochamad Rizqi Adhi Pratama; Ari Siswati — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

As digital technologies continue to evolve, students are increasingly expected to possess strong English communication skills as well as the capacity to access, critically evaluate, and responsibly generate digital content. This program was implemented through a series of training sessions that incorporated digitally mediated public speaking activities, including interactive presentations and reflective postings on educational social media platforms. The primary aim of this initiative was to enhance students’ English public speaking competence and digital literacy through the use of educational social media, specifically targeting students of SMK Muhammadiyah Ungaran, Semarang Regency. The program was designed to address several key challenges, including students’ limited proficiency in English public speaking, inadequate digital literacy skills, and the lack of interactive media utilization in learning. The implementation process began with a preliminary briefing for Universitas Ngudi Waluyo students involved in the program, followed by coordination with the partner school to determine the schedule of activities. The program concluded with the preparation of a comprehensive report upon completion. The findings reveal that the integration of educational social media significantly improved students’ confidence, clarity, and fluency in English public speaking, as reflected in the increase from 32,78% to 65,67%. In addition, students demonstrated enhanced abilities to critically engage with and navigate digital content. These results suggest that educational social media can function as an effective and engaging medium for fostering essential 21st-century communication skills.

Lucky Plants As A Change in Business Models in The Ornamental Plant Market in Kopeng, Salatiga City

Yovita Mumpuni Hartarini, Sopi, Zumrotun Nafiah — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most market vendors in Kopeng, Salatiga, are already familiar with plants that bring good luck, meaning they bring good fortune and protection from supernatural attacks (tolak balak). However, they don't use this knowledge to share with visitors who intend to bring home souvenirs from the Kopeng Tourism Park. One persuasive way to direct buyers to the market is to convey the benefits of these lucky plants by providing information using standing banners in the kiosks, encouraging visitors to decide which type of ornamental plant to purchase. This is part of a marketing strategy that encourages people to green and beautify their homes, even though in this modern era, this practice is considered superstition. The standing banner method is an output of the Marketing Mix concept implemented by the Community Service Team. This assumption should not be a barrier to environmental beauty and sustainability, but rather conveys a moral message that even a small number of existing plants can have a helpful function, which is important for the community.

Tax Education for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises: Understanding Final Income Tax At 0.5% for Online Traders in Salatiga City

Bambang Ahmad Indarto, Arda Raditya Tantra, Bulan Karima Nurani — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tax compliance among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia remains considerably low, particularly among online traders who operate through digital platforms. This community service study aims to improve the understanding of online traders in Salatiga City regarding their Final Income Tax (PPh Final) obligation at a rate of 0.5% as stipulated under Government Regulation No. 55 of 2022. The methods employed include structured counseling sessions, hands-on training, and guided tax reporting through the Directorate General of Taxes e-Filing application. The program was conducted from August to October 2023, involving 47 online traders affiliated with the Salatiga Digital MSME Community. Results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in participants' mean comprehension score from 48.3 to 82.6 (on a 100-point scale), alongside a 73.4% increase in tax compliance intention. A total of 38 out of 47 participants successfully created tax accounts and completed annual tax return (SPT) submission simulations independently. These findings confirm that structured, practice-based education effectively promotes voluntary tax compliance among MSME taxpayers and may serve as a replicable model for similar initiatives across Indonesian cities.

Financial Planning for MSMEs: Improving Cash Flow Management and Saving Behavior Among Cafe Owners in Salatiga City

Arda Raditya Tantra, Bambang Ahmad Indarto, Fitri Dwi Jayanti — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Financial planning literacy among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia remains critically low, particularly among cafe owners who frequently conflate personal and business finances, operate without cash flow monitoring, and lack structured saving or investment habits. This community service study aims to improve financial planning understanding and practices among cafe owners in Salatiga City through structured education, practical workshops, and individualized mentoring. The program was conducted from March to May 2026, involving 50 cafe owners from the Salatiga Cafe and Coffee Shop Entrepreneurs Association. Results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in participants’ mean financial literacy score from 41.6 to 79.8 (on a 100-point scale), alongside a 78.2% improvement in participants’ financial planning behavior index. A total of 41 out of 50 participants successfully prepared a personal business cash flow projection and a three-month saving plan independently. These findings confirm that structured, practice-based financial education effectively promotes sustainable financial behavior among cafe operators and may serve as a replicable model for similar initiatives across Indonesian cities.

Corporate Torts in Personal Data Breaches in Indonesia

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

These days companies have to handle a lot of information about people. This also means that there is a risk of this information getting out and hurting people. This study looks at the laws in Indonesia that say companies are responsible when this happens. It also tries to find ways for companies to follow the rules and keep information safe. The study uses laws and court cases to understand the problem. It finds out that if a company is not careful with information it can be held responsible for any harm caused. The Personal Data Protection Law also says that companies must keep information safe. The study suggests that companies should have a plan to manage risks be careful and be open about what they do. This can help prevent information from getting out and build trust in Indonesia.

Extension for Potato Farmers in Kopeng District with Strategic Management, Digital Platform Capability and Supply Chain Green Management Operational Production Process

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The empowerment of potato farmers in Kopeng District is a priority to enhance the welfare of the agrarian community. This community service program aims to develop Digital Platform Capability and Supply Chain Green Management in potato farming operational processes. The activities are carried out through participatory methods, including training, mentoring, and performance evaluation of farmers in the Kopeng area. Digital Platform Capability is applied to assist farmers in accessing market information, the latest cultivation technologies, and direct sales platforms to consumers. Meanwhile, Supply Chain Green Management is introduced to ensure environmentally friendly farming practices, logistics efficiency, and waste reduction at every operational stage. The program results show an improvement in farmers' understanding and skills in using digital technologies for agribusiness activities, such as marketing products via social media and e-commerce platforms. Furthermore, implementing green supply chain management has successfully reduced excessive chemical usage and improved harvest distribution efficiency. This initiative has also resulted in a 20% increase in farmers' income compared to pre-implementation conditions. In conclusion, empowerment through integrating digital technology and green supply chain management enhances the productivity and sustainability of potato farming businesses in Kopeng District. Recommendations for further program development include expanding the training scope and creating a collaborative ecosystem between farmers, the government, and agribusiness stakeholders to support digital transformation and agricultural sustainability.

Optimizing the Utilization of Free Social Media through Affiliate Marketing Training to Improve Digital Entrepreneurship Literacy of SMA N 1 Getasan

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid development of digital technology and the high use of social media among students have created new opportunities for digital entrepreneurship. However, the use of social media by students is still predominantly consumptive and has not been optimized for generating economic value. This community service activity aims to enhance students’ digital entrepreneurial literacy and skills through affiliate marketing training utilizing free social media platforms at SMA N 1 Getasan. The method employed in this program was participatory training based on practical approaches, including lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on practice, supported by evaluation through pre-test and post-test. The results indicate a significant improvement in students’ understanding of affiliate marketing concepts as well as their ability to create promotional content and integrate affiliate links into social media platforms. Furthermore, the level of student participation and enthusiasm was notably high throughout the training sessions. This program proved to be effective in shifting students’ social media usage from consumptive behavior to more productive and economically valuable activities. Therefore, this initiative contributes positively to improving students’ digital entrepreneurial literacy and provides opportunities for them to generate independent income at an early stage.

Innovation-Based Human Resource Empowerment in MSMEs as a Strategy for Strengthening Entrepreneurial Spirit

Abdul Aziz, Irsal Fauzi, Eko Nur Hermansyah — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This community service program aims to enhance human resource (HR) capacity in fostering an innovation-based entrepreneurial mindset among MSMEs, particularly within the mushroom farmers association in Sragen. The program addresses key challenges faced by the community, including limited product innovation, weak business management, and low digital literacy in marketing practices. A participatory and capacity-building approach was employed, integrating training, mentoring, and hands-on practice. The activities were conducted by a team of lecturers from Universitas Ngudi Waluyo, focusing on entrepreneurship development, product innovation, and digital marketing strategies. The results indicate significant improvements in participants’ entrepreneurial mindset, managerial skills, and ability to develop value-added mushroom-based products. Participants also demonstrated initial adoption of digital marketing tools to expand market reach. The program highlights that HR empowerment through innovation-oriented interventions can effectively improve MSME competitiveness and sustainability. This initiative contributes to strengthening local economic development and provides a replicable model for community-based empowerment programs.

Farmer Assistance with the Deep Soul HRM Approach through Digital Marketing Strategies in the Quail Egg Farming Community in Getasan District

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Empowering farmers and livestock breeders is a strategic effort to improve the welfare of rural communities. This program aims to increase the capacity of the quail egg farming community in Getasan District through digital marketing strategies for MSME products. The main challenges faced by farmers include limited market access, low digital literacy, and the lack of technology utilization in marketing. Through this program, training and mentoring are provided in utilizing various digital platforms, such as social media, marketplaces, and e-commerce applications to increase product marketing reach. The methods used in this activity include needs surveys, digital marketing training, and monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of marketing strategies by participants. The results of this program show an increase in farmers' understanding and skills in utilizing digital marketing, which has implications for increased sales and market expansion. In addition, the formation of a farmer-based digital marketing community is expected to become a forum for collaboration and sharing experiences in developing sustainable businesses. In conclusion, digital marketing-based marketing strategies have proven to be an effective solution in increasing the competitiveness of quail egg farming MSME products. This technology-based empowerment is expected to accelerate the digital economic transformation in the livestock sector and have a positive impact on the welfare of farmers in Getasan District.

Exploring Japanese Arts and Music As A Medium For Adolescent Self-Expression

Hendrike Priventa — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Adolescence is a transformative period marked by rapid emotional and social changes that often lead to increased stress and a lack of constructive outlets for self-expression. This community service project (PKM), titled "Project Harmony," was conducted at SMPN 3 Ungaran to introduce Japanese arts and music as functional mediums for improving mental resilience among 8th-grade students. The program utilized a holistic approach, integrating the meditative practice of Origami to foster mindfulness, the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi to encourage self-acceptance, and musical appreciation to assist in emotional regulation. The methodology involved interactive workshops, visual demonstrations, and collaborative group projects designed to bridge cultural concepts with daily student life. The results indicated a significant positive impact on the participants, with over 90% of students reporting increased levels of relaxation and self-confidence following the intervention. The sessions effectively demonstrated that aesthetic and rhythmic activities can serve as accessible, low-cost tools for stress management and identity exploration. Furthermore, the collaborative art projects enhanced social cohesion and communication among peers. This project highlights the potential of cultural-based artistic interventions in supporting adolescent mental health and provides a replicable model for integrating "wellness mindsets" into school-based character development programs.

Empowering High School Students’ Digital Literacy to Thrive in the Society 5.0 Era

Abdul Aziz, Irsal Fauzi, Eko Nur Hermansyah — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This community-based educational program aims to enhance digital literacy among high school students in responding to the challenges of the Society 5.0 era. The rapid integration of digital technology into various aspects of life requires students to possess not only technical skills but also critical thinking, ethical awareness, and the ability to create meaningful digital content. However, current conditions indicate that many students still demonstrate limited competencies in evaluating information, understanding digital ethics, and utilizing technology productively. This program employs a participatory and capacity-building approach through a series of structured activities, including training, mentoring, and practical implementation. The training focuses on strengthening students’ abilities in accessing, analyzing, evaluating, and creating digital information. The mentoring phase ensures continuous guidance and practical application of acquired knowledge. The results of the program indicate a significant improvement in students’ digital literacy competencies, particularly in critical evaluation of information, responsible use of digital platforms, and creative content production. Additionally, students show increased awareness of digital risks such as misinformation, cyberbullying, and data privacy issues. The findings highlight the importance of integrating digital literacy into educational systems to prepare students for a human-centered technological society. This program contributes to the development of adaptive, critical, and responsible digital citizens in the Society 5.0 era.