Community Service Team from Universitas Bengkulu Conducts Discussion and Participatory Mapping with Pokdarwis Argatirta Kemumu for the Development of a Bilingual Storybook

Kemumu, July 21, 2024 – The Community Service Team from Universitas Bengkulu, led by Akbar Abdurrahman Mahfudz, S.Si., M.Sc., held a discussion and participatory mapping session with Pokdarwis Argatirta Kemumu on Sunday, July 21, 2024. This activity is part of the program titled “Assistance in Creating a Bilingual Illustrated Storybook Based on Geospatial Information as an Innovative Promotional Media to Enhance the Image of Edu-Tourism in Desa Kemumu,” aimed at promoting the tourism potential of Desa Kemumu.

The event was attended by the Chairman of Pokdarwis Argatirta Kemumu, Mr. Triyono, along with 15 other Pokdarwis members. The community service team from Universitas Bengkulu included Ana Ariasari, S.Pi., M.Sc., Nur Lina Maratana Nabiu, S.Pi., M.Sc., and two students who assisted in the discussion and mapping processes. Together with Pokdarwis members, the team conducted participatory mapping in various strategic locations within Desa Kemumu to document tourist sites, historical buildings, and cultural elements that will be featured in the storybook.

The discussion focused on identifying spatial locations to be highlighted in the storybook, including aspects of the village’s history, cultural traditions, tourism potential, arts, and achievements of Desa Kemumu. Input from Pokdarwis members was crucial in ensuring the accuracy and relevance of the information to be presented in the book.

Mr. Triyono, Chairman of Pokdarwis, expressed his appreciation for the support from Universitas Bengkulu in this initiative. “We greatly appreciate this collaboration. With participatory mapping, we are confident that this storybook will depict Desa Kemumu more accurately and attractively for tourists,” said Mr. Triyono.

The community service team also documented various locations through photography, which will be used as references in the creation of the book’s illustrations. These photos are expected to assist the illustrator in depicting the beauty and uniqueness of Desa Kemumu in detail.

Akbar Abdurrahman Mahfudz, S.Si., M.Sc., Head of the Community Service Team, emphasized the importance of Pokdarwis’s involvement in this process. “The participatory mapping we conducted with Pokdarwis ensures that every location featured in this storybook aligns with the reality and potential of Desa Kemumu. This is a crucial step in producing a book that is not only visually appealing but also geospatially accurate,” said Akbar.

Following this activity, the team will proceed to the text composition stage in two languages and coordinate with the illustrator to begin the illustration process. The book is expected to be launched in the coming months as part of the effort to promote Desa Kemumu to a broader audience.