UNAIR NEWS The 2025 Community Development (COMDEV) Program, launched by the Community Service Ministry of the BEM FKM , reflects a strong collaboration between students and residents to build a healthier, more resilient, and economically empowered community. This year檚 program took place in RW 4 Asem Jaya, Tembok Dukuh Village, Bubutan District, Surabaya, engaging five neighborhood units as partner areas. Over more than seven months, a series of educational initiatives and economic empowerment projects were carried out in a structured, sustainable manner.
The program officially began on April 20, 2025, with an opening ceremony at the RW 4 Asem Jaya community hall. The event featured group exercise activities, door prize giveaways, and the signing of a cooperation agreement between the COMDEV committee and RW 4 representatives. The agreement served as the foundation for a shared commitment to implementing the program collaboratively.
After the opening, COMDEV moved into its Segregation Phases 15, held from May 4 to June 29, 2025. These phases focused on educating residents about proper disposal and reuse of used cooking oil to prevent environmental contamination. Residents participated in counseling sessions and hands-on workshops on how to convert used cooking oil into candles, guided by lecturers from FKM UNAIR. At the same time, a waste bank program was implemented across all RTs to teach residents how to sort inorganic waste and collect used cooking oil for submission to the committee. The proceeds from the collected waste were returned to residents as appreciation, allowing the initiative to serve both educational and economic purposes.
The next stage, Monitoring and Evaluation (Monev), involved discussions between the committee and residents about program execution and feedback for improvement. This process ensured that COMDEV remained participatory and aligned with the community檚 evolving needs.
Midway through the program, participants visited the Sepande 1000 MSMEs Tourism Village in Sidoarjo through an activity titled 淐OMDEV Goes to Desa Wisata with 1000 MSMEs Sepande. During the visit, residents explored three key local industries, salted egg production, catfish farming, and tempe processing, gaining firsthand exposure to small-scale business operations. The experience motivated residents to consider ways to expand local economic opportunities in Asem Jaya.
The program continued with Development Phases 14, which focused on strengthening local micro, small, and medium enterprises. Residents received training on applying for a business identification number (NIB), guidance on halal certification, and cooking demonstrations featuring processed catfish products such as shredded catfish and nuggets. The phase concluded with lessons on marketing strategies, both traditional and digital, to help residents grow their businesses independently and sustainably.
The finale of the program, the COMDEV 2025 Closing Ceremony, was held on November 9, 2025. The event began with group exercise and door prize distribution, followed by free health screenings offered in collaboration with the Vascular Science Club of the UNAIR Faculty of Medicine. Screenings included blood pressure checks, random blood sugar tests, uric acid measurements, and evaluations of vein diameter, all of which provided meaningful health benefits to the community. The event concluded with a final evaluation and expressions of gratitude from residents for the COMDEV committee檚 year-long support.
In its entirety, COMDEV 2025 demonstrated how collaboration between students and the community can generate lasting positive change. From launch to conclusion, the program strengthened environmental awareness, deepened community solidarity, and opened new pathways toward economic self-reliance for residents of RW 4 Asem Jaya.
Author: Tim COMDEV
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
