Students from the Pancasila and Civic Education (PPKn) Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), recently carried out a community service program entitled “Learning Assistance and Digital Literacy for Children” at Sanggar Anak Tumbuh in Bantul. The activity was implemented as part of a Project-Based SDGs learning initiative aimed at supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education.

The program was organized in collaboration with the community organization Bantul Bergerak and Sanggar Anak Tumbuh. It was motivated by concerns over the increasing use of digital devices among children and adolescents without adequate understanding of digital literacy. Such conditions may lead to various negative consequences, including reduced learning concentration and the risk of gadget addiction. Therefore, PPKn UNY students initiated an educational program designed to help children use technology wisely and responsibly.

Under the supervision of lecturer Eko Swi Darmawan, M.Pd., the program involved seven PPKn students: Wiwin Heliyana, Mahriza Aulia, Aminatun Qoyimah, Rizka Intan Amalia Novta, Rahardian Rizky Wibowo, Luna Maya, and Nisrina Naila Mumtaza. The students actively participated in designing, organizing, and implementing the entire program alongside community partners.

The activities began with the screening of an educational video about the dangers of gadget addiction, followed by an interactive discussion with participants. Through this session, children learned about the potential impacts of excessive gadget use and the importance of maintaining a healthy balance in their daily activities.

The digital literacy session was led by Rizka Intan Amalia Novta together with Alifia from Bantul Bergerak. During the session, participants were introduced to safe internet practices, social media ethics, methods for identifying misinformation and hoaxes, and the importance of managing screen time in accordance with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO).

To make the learning experience more engaging, the program concluded with a creative collage workshop facilitated by Nisrina Naila Mumtaza and Mahriza Aulia. Through cutting and pasting activities, children were encouraged to develop creativity, improve fine motor skills, and discover enjoyable alternatives to spending time on digital devices. Participants demonstrated strong enthusiasm and active involvement throughout the workshop.

Atina, founder of Sanggar Anak Tumbuh, expressed appreciation for the initiative. She noted that the digital literacy education provided by the students was highly relevant to the needs of children today.

“The children were very enthusiastic and actively involved. I hope today’s experience encourages them to use their mobile phones more wisely and productively.”

In addition to supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education), the program also contributes to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by expanding access to digital education for children within community-based learning environments. Future plans include disseminating digital literacy materials to parents through community WhatsApp groups and partner social media platforms, as well as integrating the content into educational activities within partner schools.

Through this initiative, PPKn UNY students demonstrated that civic education extends beyond classroom learning and can be translated into meaningful community action. The collaboration among the university, community organizations, and local residents is expected to strengthen an educational ecosystem that is inclusive, adaptive to technological developments, and sustainable for future generations.