he Universitas Indonesia Community Engagement Team, chaired by Dr. Abellia Anggi Wardani, S.Hum., M.A. from the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI), has successfully organized a series of educational and creative activities in the Wakatobi Islands. These activities, which were part of the support for the Wowine Festival, took place over two days on August 21-22, 2025, and were funded through an assignment scheme from the Directorate of Community Service and Social Innovation of the University of Indonesia (DPIS UI).
These activities are evidence of close collaboration between academics, local communities, and local governments. In addition to Dr. Abellia, the team consisted of Dr. Suma Riella Rusdiarti (FIB UI lecturer), Gabriella Natasha (FIB UI student), and Ns. Sri Agustin Tabara, M.Kep (alumnus of the Faculty of Nursing, UI). In carrying out activities in the field, the UI Community Service Team coordinated with the Wowine Festival Committee, represented by Mr. Guntur and Mrs. Wa Ode Sukmawati. For this contribution, the UI Community Service Team also received a token of appreciation, which was presented directly by the Regent of Wakatobi, Haliana, at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Wowine Festival.
On the first day, August 21, 2025, activities were centered at Mola Utara 2 Public Elementary School with a Book Donation and Storytelling agenda. Children were invited to express their imagination about the sea through drawing activities and telling stories behind them. This session was facilitated by local volunteers from the Wakatobi Children’s Forum, who helped each child express their stories through visual works. The books collected from various donors were then officially handed over to fill the newly inaugurated school library collection and were received directly by Mrs. Nur Idarumawati, S.Pd., as the principal, accompanied by the relevant teachers.
The series of activities continued on the second day, August 22, 2025, with the implementation of Image-Based Approach Training. This training was a major part of the Wowine Festival, which carried the theme “Maritime Women’s Energy.” The Universitas Indonesia’s Community Service Team introduced the image-based approach method to explore the cultural potential and diversity in Wakatobi. The participants were high school students who were members of the Wakatobi Children’s Forum from several high schools in Wakatobi. Through this training, the participants were invited to learn about the seven elements of Wakatobi culture and express their identities through images in the form of zines or mini magazines. As the highlight of the activity, all the works produced by the children were exhibited in an art exhibition at the opening of the Wowine Festival.
In addition to strengthening community capacity, particularly among women and young people, this activity has been appreciated by the local community for the support of academics in promoting and preserving the local cultural heritage in Wakatobi. It is hoped that the collected works and narratives can be used as material for further publications, including an illustrated book that will document the cultural wealth of Wakatobi. (Community Engagement Team)
