The Psychology Student Association (HMPS) of the Community Service Division of Mercu Buana University Yogyakarta (UMBY) has an annual program, Community Service (PkM).

The PkM activity, titled "Psychology Serves 2025," was attended by 37 UMBY Psychology students. It took place over five days at Ringin Ardi, Karangsari, Pengasih, Kulon Progo, recently.

The Chairperson of the Psychology Serves 2025 Executive Committee, Nurhaliza, explained that the activity is a form of implementation of UMBY's Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi (Three Pillars of Higher Education), directly involving students.

"Namely, to make a real contribution to the community through an applied psychology approach that has a direct impact on society," she said.

The main theme of the UMBY Psychology Serves 2025 series of activities is "Nandur Rasa Mulyaning Urip Sesarengan" (Instilling a sense of goodness to achieve the glory of life together).

Therefore, in line with the theme, the students held a series of activities based on a psychological approach to empower people of various ages.

Some of the activities included a children's emotional regulation program themed "Recognize My Emotions, Color My Day" aimed at students of Kedung Tangkil Elementary School in Pengasih.

"The students provided material related to various basic human emotions to help students recognize and manage their feelings through a fun method," explained Nur.

She explained that the program was not only fun, but also developmentally appropriate. The goal was to provide space for children to express their emotions in a healthy and open manner.

It was also hoped that the children would be able to recognize and manage their emotions as effectively as possible. Approximately 70 students participated in the activity, which was organized into interactive sessions per group based on grade level.

There was also a bonfire night activity with the Permata Youth Organization (Karang Taruna Permata), with 41 members/administrators of the local youth organization. The theme was "Bonfire, Hope in the Embers."

The goal of this activity, for example, was to build healthy and resilient romantic relationships through self-understanding and emotional management. The specific objectives include improving self-understanding and emotions, developing communication skills, and building emotional resilience.

The closing activity of the 2025 Psychology Serves series was adult psychoeducation with the theme, "Harmony of Love and Parenting as the Foundation of a Healthy Family."

The material was delivered by Malida Fatimah, S.Psi., M.Cons., a Psychology lecturer at UMBY. In her presentation, she explained the importance of parents being able to understand their children from their perspective.

This is because parental love and parenting significantly influence a child's growth and development. Likewise, the time children spend with their family creates unforgettable memories.

Furthermore, it can form strong emotional bonds and lay the foundation for a child's future character. Thirty-nine participants, all from Ringin Ardi, participated in the adult psychoeducation session.

Meanwhile, Santi Esterlita Purnamasari, M.Sc., Psychologist, as the Patron Lecturer and Advisor for Psikologi Mengabdi 2025, stated that the activity not only provides a platform for students to learn directly from the community.

It also strengthens the relationship between UMBY and the Ringin Ardi community in Karangsari Pengasih. Moreover, the Psikologi Mengabdi program has become a flagship program.

This means building a bridge between the academic world and the real needs of the community. In addition to benefiting the community, students also benefit from various benefits.

These include developing communication skills to build good relationships with residents and learning to adapt to new environments.

"It's also beneficial for fostering teamwork to ensure the success of the activity, and for gaining direct experience in community life," she concluded.

Agus Dwi Iswanto, Head of the Ringin Ardi Hamlet, stated that residents, from children to teenagers and adults, were very enthusiastic about participating in this series of beneficial activities.

Saptariningsih, a local resident and member of the Karangsari Citizens' Watch, echoed this sentiment. Furthermore, Ringin Ardi is one of the hamlets that has successfully participated in the government's focus program, the Family Planning Village.

"So, Community Service activities like this are very appropriate here. Hopefully, UMBY can hold similar activities in Karangsari in the future, but in a different hamlet," she said.*