YPJ Tembagapura Community Project: Teaching Students to Make Real Contributions to the Environment
Tembagapura, April 28, 2026 - Yayasan Pendidikan Jayawijaya (YPJ) Tembagapura School launched the Community Project as the final assignment for 9th-grade junior high students. To prepare junior high students for real-world challenges, YPJ School provides a practical platform to apply classroom knowledge to local environmental issues. This project is not just an ordinary school assignment but a real-world implementation of the knowledge they have absorbed throughout their junior high years.
The Community Project exhibition, presented by 9th-grade junior high students and held at the Tembagapura Community Hall, began with welcoming remarks from the school principal and event coordinator, musical and dance performances by junior high students, introductions to each exhibition stand by the 9th-grade students, and detailed presentations at every stand. The event was attended by all YPJ students (from early childhood, elementary, and junior high) as well as parents.
According to Robertus Erwin Prasetyo, the Community Project coordinator at YPJ, the program is designed as a platform for students to apply the various disciplines they have learned from 7th to 9th grade. Students are tasked with identifying problems in their community, conducting in-depth investigations, planning, and executing solutions.
"The goal is to enable students to identify community problems and connect them to the subjects they choose themselves," said Erwin. He added that the project encompasses a complete process, from planning to reflection at the end of the activity.
The exhibition received positive responses from parents. Hilda Sahureka, one of the attending parents, expressed her admiration for the diversity of projects on display. "They've given their best. Some focused-on art, others on science and math. This is really cool," Hilda said proudly. She further hoped that the project wouldn't end here. In her view, the experience of working on the Community Project will be valuable preparation for students as they advance to high school and face external challenges.
It was a major effort for the 9th-grade students, who prepared this project over a long period. The project was developed from August 25, 2025, to April 23, 2026, when they presented and were evaluated. It was ultimately showcased in the exhibition on April 28.
Michelle Damanik, one of the participating 9th-grade students, shared that the experience taught her valuable lessons about group dynamics. "In this project, I learned about each student's skills and abilities and how to collaborate more effectively," she said. This demonstrates that the Community Project successfully hones crucial soft skills for the students' futures.
With the success of this Community Project exhibition, YPJ Tembagapura Junior High School proves that education is not limited to the classroom but must also address challenges and make real contributions to the wider community. (MD)
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