Undiknas Charity 2025: Mewujudkan Kepedulian dan Inklusi Sosial Bersama Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud

Gianyar, 21 Februari 2025 – Sebagai bagian dari rangkaian perayaan Bulan Dies Natalis (BUDINATA) ke-56, Universitas Pendidikan Nasional (Undiknas) kembali menunjukkan komitmennya dalam menciptakan dampak positif bagi masyarakat melalui kegiatan Undiknas Charity. Tahun ini, Undiknas menggandeng Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud, sebuah lembaga sosial yang berfokus pada pemberdayaan penyandang disabilitas, untuk bersama-sama menyebarkan semangat kepedulian dan inklusi sosial.

Berlokasi di Desa Tampaksiring, Gianyar, Bali, Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud menjadi rumah bagi puluhan penyandang disabilitas yang dibimbing untuk hidup mandiri dan berdaya. Dengan visi “Membangkitkan rasa percaya diri pada diri sendiri, dalam keluarga, dan hubungan dalam bermasyarakat”, yayasan ini berupaya menggali potensi para anggotanya dan mengembangkannya agar mereka mampu hidup mandiri dan berkontribusi dalam masyarakat.

Dalam sambutannya, I Wayan Damai, Ketua Pembina Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud, menegaskan bahwa penyandang disabilitas bukanlah beban masyarakat. “Kami berdiri untuk menghapus stigma bahwa disabilitas itu merepotkan. Mereka tidak butuh belas kasihan atau sekadar bantuan materi, tapi akses terhadap pendidikan dan fasilitas publik yang inklusif,” ujarnya.

Sebagai penyandang disabilitas akibat polio sejak kecil, I Wayan Damai telah membuktikan bahwa keterbatasan fisik bukan penghalang untuk berprestasi. Ia telah menorehkan berbagai prestasi di tingkat nasional dan internasional di cabang olahraga wheelchair basketball, paracycling, dan lawn bowls, mengharumkan nama Indonesia di berbagai ajang ASEAN.

Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud memiliki berbagai program pemberdayaan bagi anggotanya, mulai dari:

• Pendidikan Formal dan Kejar Paket
• Kelas Baca Tulis, Bahasa, dan Komputer
• Pelatihan Seni seperti tari modern (diajarkan oleh relawan dari Kanada), vokal, dan teater
• Program Pertanian dan Wirausaha berupa budidaya sayuran, pemeliharaan ikan, pengolahan kopi lokal, dan pembuatan kerajinan tangan
• Program Berbagi untuk membantu penyandang disabilitas lain di desa terpencil melalui penyaluran sumbangan

Menariknya, seluruh program di yayasan ini dijalankan oleh relawan tanpa donatur tetap, menunjukkan komitmen kuat dalam membangun solidaritas sosial.

Kegiatan Undiknas Charity ini bertujuan untuk mempererat hubungan antara dunia pendidikan dan masyarakat, serta mengajak mahasiswa untuk lebih peduli terhadap isu-isu sosial, terutama terkait inklusi penyandang disabilitas.

“Melalui program ini, kami ingin membangun kesadaran bahwa pendidikan tinggi tidak hanya tentang mengejar akademik, tapi juga tentang membentuk karakter peduli dan empati terhadap sesama,” ujar Dr. Drs. I Nyoman Subanda , M.Si. selaku Vice Rector For Partnership and Entrepreneurship dan perwakilan Undiknas dalam acara Undiknas Charity Program ke Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud.

Partisipasi civitas akademika dalam kegiatan ini serta berbagai bantuan yang dapat disumbangkan diharapkan dapat memberikan manfaat bagi kelangsungan Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud. Hal ini menjadi cerminan nyata bahwa Undiknas sebagai Techno-Researchpreneur University tak hanya fokus pada pengembangan akademik, tetapi juga membangun nilai-nilai kemanusiaan dan tanggung jawab sosial.

Wayan Sukarmen, Sekretaris Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud, menjelaskan bahwa yayasan ini hadir karena adanya diskriminasi yang kerap dihadapi oleh penyandang disabilitas di masyarakat. “Banyak yang masih melihat disabilitas sebagai beban, padahal mereka memiliki potensi besar jika diberikan kesempatan yang sama,” jelasnya.

Yayasan juga aktif mengedukasi masyarakat untuk menghapus stigma negatif dan memperjuangkan hak-hak penyandang disabilitas, termasuk akses pendidikan dan fasilitas publik yang ramah disabilitas.

Kegiatan Undiknas Charity ini bukan hanya tentang donasi, tetapi tentang membangun semangat berbagi dan menciptakan perubahan nyata bagi masyarakat. Melalui kegiatan ini, Undiknas berharap dapat memberikan dukungan dan memperluas dampak positif bagi komunitas penyandang disabilitas di Bali. Semangat inklusi sosial yang diusung oleh Yayasan Cahaya Mutiara Ubud selaras dengan misi Undiknas dalam mendukung Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan (Sustainable Development Goals), terutama dalam mewujudkan pendidikan yang inklusif dan mengurangi kesenjangan sosial.

“Disabilitas tidak perlu dikasihani, tapi dikasihi dan diberi kesempatan. Karena pada akhirnya, mereka pun mampu berdiri mandiri dan menjadi bagian dari solusi, bukan sekadar menjadi objek bantuan,” tutup I Wayan Damai.

Dengan kegiatan ini, Undiknas berkomitmen untuk terus berkembang dan menjadi institusi pendidikan yang tidak hanya unggul dalam akademik, tetapi juga memiliki kepedulian sosial yang tinggi, selaras dengan nilai-nilai kemanusiaan dan keberlanjutan.

Undiknas Charity 2025: Fostering Compassion and Social Inclusion with Cahaya Mutiara Ubud Foundation

Gianyar, February 21, 2025 – As part of the 56th anniversary celebration of Bulan Dies Natalis (BUDINATA), Universitas Pendidikan Nasional (Undiknas) once again demonstrated its commitment to creating a positive impact on society through the Undiknas Charity program. This year, Undiknas partnered with the Cahaya Mutiara Ubud Foundation, a social organization focused on empowering people with disabilities, to spread the spirit of compassion and social inclusion.

Located in Tampaksiring Village, Gianyar, Bali, Cahaya Mutiara Ubud Foundation serves as a home for dozens of people with disabilities, guiding them toward self-reliance and empowerment. With its vision, “Building self-confidence within oneself, within families, and within society,” the foundation strives to unlock the potential of its members and develop it so they can live independently and contribute to the community.

In his opening remarks, I Wayan Damai, Chairman of Cahaya Mutiara Ubud Foundation, emphasized that people with disabilities are not a burden to society. “We exist to eliminate the stigma that disabilities are troublesome. They do not need pity or mere material aid, but rather access to education and inclusive public facilities,” he stated.

As a person with disabilities due to polio since childhood, I Wayan Damai has proven that physical limitations do not hinder achievement. He has earned various national and international accolades in sports such as wheelchair basketball, paracycling, and lawn bowls, proudly representing Indonesia in several ASEAN competitions.

The Cahaya Mutiara Ubud Foundation offers a variety of empowerment programs for its members, including:

• Formal Education and Equivalency Programs (Kejar Paket)
• Reading, Language, and Computer Classes
• Arts Training, such as modern dance (taught by volunteers from Canada), vocal classes, and theater
• Agriculture and Entrepreneurship Programs, including vegetable farming, fish farming, local coffee processing, and handicraft making
• Outreach Programs that support people with disabilities in remote villages through donation distribution

Interestingly, all programs are run by volunteers without permanent donors, highlighting a strong commitment to building social solidarity.

The primary goal of the Undiknas Charity program is to strengthen the bond between the academic world and society while encouraging students to care more about social issues, especially the inclusion of people with disabilities.

“Through this program, we aim to instill the understanding that higher education is not only about academic excellence but also about developing empathy and compassion for others,” stated Dr. Drs. I Nyoman Subanda, M.Si., Vice Rector for Partnership and Entrepreneurship and Undiknas’ representative at the event.

The active participation of the academic community and the contributions made during this charity event are expected to provide meaningful support for the sustainability of Cahaya Mutiara Ubud Foundation. This reflects Undiknas’ commitment as a Techno-Researchpreneur University, focusing not only on academic development but also on promoting humanitarian values and social responsibility.

Wayan Sukarmen, Secretary of the Cahaya Mutiara Ubud Foundation, explained that the foundation was established in response to the discrimination often faced by people with disabilities in society. “Many still view disabilities as a burden, even though they have great potential if given equal opportunities,” he stated.

The foundation actively educates the public to eliminate negative stigmas and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities, including access to education and disability-friendly public facilities.

The Undiknas Charity event is not merely about donations; it’s about fostering a spirit of kindness and driving real change within the community. Through this initiative, Undiknas hopes to extend long-term support to Cahaya Mutiara Ubud Foundation and broaden the positive impact on Bali’s disabled community.

The spirit of social inclusion promoted by the foundation aligns with Undiknas’ mission to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in achieving inclusive education and reducing social inequality.

“People with disabilities do not need pity but compassion and opportunities. In the end, they can stand on their own and become part of the solution—not just recipients of aid,” concluded I Wayan Damai.

Through this event, Undiknas reaffirms its commitment to becoming an educational institution that excels not only academically but also socially, upholding values of humanity and sustainability.