Lecturers and students of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI), who are members of the Community Service Team (Pengmas), held an interesting skills learning activity for children with autism entitled “Autiscare Edusains” on Saturday (11/28/2021) at the Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory Building of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia – PT Pertamina (Persero), UI Campus, Depok.
The team, led by Khonsa Rana Nabila (Biology 2019), collaborated with the Pandu Cendekia Foundation in implementing this program.
Under the guidance of Dr. Retno Lestari, M.Si., a lecturer in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, the team provided learning to participants who were students under the guidance of the Putra Fitri Therapy House Foundation, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. The participants numbered 12 people, aged between 14 and 18 years old, and were all sufferers of autism spectrum disorder.
The team encouraged participants to process plastic waste into useful handicrafts. The goal was to teach motor skills and provide psychomotor therapy, utilizing unused items as learning materials.
This activity was packaged in an interesting and creative way, namely making children’s toys from cardboard and plastic straws as well as a fairy tale performance by storytellers from Dongeng Ceria with the theme of processing plastic bottles into musical instruments.
Dr. Retno Lestari, M.Si., said, “This activity aims to provide learning and psychomotor therapy through interesting activities such as making crafts from plastic waste as an effort to improve motor skills, creativity, independence, and environmental awareness for the participants,” explained Dr. Retno.
All participants who attended this event were very enthusiastic and also actively participated in all the activities held.
“The children were very happy and this event will also be a sweet memory for them,” said Ratna Komara Wangsih, program head of the Putra Fitri Therapy House Foundation.
Ratna also hopes that the Autiscare Edusains program will continue, so that this beneficial activity will continue to exist and become a forum for students under the guidance of the Putra Fitri Therapy House Foundation to be able to continue actively learning and also creating works.
