Waroeng Batja: Empowering village learning through digital literacy and social entrepreneurship

Abstract

Waroeng Batja was developed as a community-based informal school in Panguragan Lor Village. This program is designed as a free, open, and participatory learning space. Waroeng Batja has succeeded in establishing a community-based informal learning ecosystem involving 70 school-age participants, consisting of 23 elementary school students, 31 middle school students, and 16 high school students, and supported by 30 student facilitators. The program is implemented through Participatory Action Research (PAR), with routine learning activities held three times a week, including reading habits, assistance with school assignments, English learning, basic digital literacy, local cultural learning, and entrepreneurial practices. Quantitatively, the entrepreneurship program involves 45 students, using 400 oyster mushroom bags that produce 180 kg of harvest, and utilizing 80 m² of land for vegetable cultivation with a yield of 120 kg. The entrepreneurship component generated revenue of Rp6,160,000, a surplus of Rp1,860,000, social cash funds of Rp958,000, measurable social benefits of Rp4,773,000, and a simple social return on investment of 1.11. In terms of culture, the initial assessment showed that none of the 10 purposively selected participants could name at least 3 forms of Cirebon culture. In contrast, in the final assessment, all 10 participants were able to name at least three forms of Cirebon culture and were involved in practicing and performing the Cirebon Mask Dance. These findings indicate that informal schools that integrate literacy, culture, and social entrepreneurship can serve as a contextual model of community service when supported by the participation of facilitators, village government, and partner networks, and by data-based evaluation.

Abstrak

Waroeng Batja dikembangkan sebagai sekolah informal berbasis komunitas di Desa Panguragan Lor. Program ini dirancang sebagai ruang belajar yang bebas, terbuka, dan partisipatif. Waroeng Batja berhasil membentuk ekosistem belajar informal berbasis masyarakat yang melibatkan 70 peserta usia sekolah, terdiri atas 23 siswa SD, 31 siswa SMP, dan 16 siswa SMA, serta didukung oleh 30 fasilitator mahasiswa. Program dilaksanakan melalui Participatory Action Research (PAR) dengan kegiatan belajar rutin tiga kali seminggu yang mencakup pembiasaan membaca, pendampingan tugas sekolah, pembelajaran bahasa Inggris, pendampingan literasi digital dasar, pembelajaran budaya lokal, serta praktik kewirausahaan. Secara kuantitatif, program kewirausahaan melibatkan 45 siswa, menggunakan 400 baglog jamur tiram yang menghasilkan 180 kg panen, serta memanfaatkan lahan 80 m² untuk budidaya sayuran dengan hasil 120 kg. Komponen kewirausahaan menghasilkan pendapatan sebesar Rp6.160.000, surplus Rp1.860.000, dana kas sosial Rp958.000, manfaat sosial terukur Rp4.773.000, serta nilai social return on investment sederhana sebesar 1,11. Pada aspek budaya, asesmen awal menunjukkan bahwa tidak satu pun dari 10 peserta yang dipilih secara purposif mampu menyebutkan sedikitnya tiga bentuk budaya khas Cirebon, sedangkan pada asesmen akhir seluruh 10 peserta mampu menyebutkan sedikitnya tiga bentuk budaya Cirebon serta terlibat dalam latihan dan penampilan Tari Topeng Cirebon. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa sekolah informal yang mengintegrasikan literasi, budaya, dan kewirausahaan sosial dapat menjadi model pengabdian masyarakat yang kontekstual apabila didukung oleh partisipasi fasilitator, pemerintah desa, jejaring mitra, serta evaluasi berbasis data.

Kata Kunci: inovasi sosial; kewirausahaan sosial; literasi digital; sekolah informal; Waroeng Batja