Habitat Updates
Gresik, November 7, 2025 – In an effort to strengthen the role of rural youth as agents of change in the digital era, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, in collaboration with the Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Humanities and Creative Industry, Petra Christian University (UK Petra), held a training program titled Empowering Youth Organizations in Managing Information Based on Local Potential through Social Media in Campurejo Village, Panceng District, Gresik Regency, East Java.
The event was attended by 20 members of the Campurejo Village Karang Taruna (Youth Organization) and forms part of the Home Equals Habitat for Humanity Project, which focuses on enhancing community capacity in managing public communication and information based on local potential.
As a youth organization, Karang Taruna plays a strategic role in developing local potential across social, cultural, and economic sectors. However, the challenges of the digital era highlight the need to strengthen skills in effectively utilizing social media. Through this activity, young people were encouraged to creatively and strategically use social media as a tool for local promotion and branding.
The main speaker, Dr. Inri Inggrit Indrayani, M.Si, Lecturer and Head of Strategic Communication Studies at the Department of Communication Science, UK Petra, together with her team — Vanessa Febriani, Devina Aurelia Cokro, Hendrawan Surya Wijaya, and Michael Juan Ivander Widiarto — provided training on digital communication strategies, creative writing, and content production based on local potential.
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The training program was carried out in four phases: preparation and coordination, basic training, implementation, and evaluation for sustainability. In the initial phase, Habitat for Humanity and UK Petra teams coordinated with local government officials and community leaders to map out local potential that could be developed into digital content. Participants then received training on managing social media accounts aimed at promoting the village’s unique features, including local MSME products, cultural activities, and tourism attractions.
Dr. Inri explained that improving digital capacity among rural youth is a key step toward fostering independence and community-based development.
“We want young people to understand that social media can serve as a strategic tool to build a positive image of their community, not just a place for daily sharing. With strong digital skills, they can actively promote local potential, expand networks, and inspire a wider audience,” she said.
Through this activity, Karang Taruna members are expected to consistently and creatively manage the village’s official social media accounts. These platforms will serve as the main channels for spreading positive information and encouraging community participation in local development.
The program also aims to build confidence and a sense of pride among the youth of Campurejo Village in their own local potential. Strengthening digital literacy marks an important step toward creating a more empowered and adaptive village community, equipped with a strong digital identity in the modern era.
(kh/av)
