Students of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) participating in the Pembelajaran Luar Kampus (PLK) program carried out a community service initiative at the Bina Insan Mandiri Orphanage in Sedayu, Bantul. This activity represents the implementation of practice-based learning while also serving as an effort to empower the community across various groups, ranging from children to micro-entrepreneurs.

The empowerment programs implemented were diverse and targeted. For children, students organized educational and character-building activities designed to foster creativity and learning motivation. Meanwhile, for adult groups—especially women—training sessions were conducted to enhance skills and economic independence.

One of the highlighted initiatives was training in processing used cooking oil into valuable products, along with the creation of environmentally friendly items such as tote bags and tumblers made from recycled materials. These activities not only improved participants’ skills but also opened up new economic opportunities.

In addition to educational programs, students also organized social activities such as group exercise through the “Healthy Steps” program, community clean-up efforts within the orphanage, and shopping activities with the children. In the latter, students accompanied the children in selecting their needs based on a set budget, teaching them practical financial awareness.

According to one of the team representatives, all activities were designed to create real and sustainable impact. “We hope this program will not stop after the PLK ends, but can continue to be carried on by the community,” he said.

The presence of UNY students was warmly welcomed by the community. This was reflected in the high level of participation and enthusiasm from residents in every activity. Support from both the university and the orphanage management further strengthened the program’s implementation, creating strong synergy between students and the community.

Overall, this initiative demonstrates how experiential learning can go beyond academic boundaries, encouraging students to contribute directly to society. It also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), through education, economic empowerment, and environmental awareness initiatives.