PEMBERDAYAAN DESA MENDUPO MELALUI TOGA, LITERASI TBM, DAN EDUKASI STUNTING - Ramli Ramli; Woro Kusmaryani; Fitriawati Fitriawati; Winarno Winarno; Muhammad Arya Wicaksana Jakra (Journal of Community Empowerment, 2026)
ABSTRAKManuskrip pengabdian ini melaporkan program utama Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) Universitas Borneo Tarakan (UBT) di Desa Mendupo, Kecamatan Betayau, Kabupaten Tana Tidung, Kalimantan Utara, yang dilaksanakan pada 22 Desember 2025 s.d. 30 Januari 2026. Kegiatan dilatarbelakangi oleh kebutuhan penguatan kapasitas desa pada aspek kesehatan keluarga, literasi anak, dan pemanfaatan sumber daya lokal yang masih memerlukan pendampingan yang lebih terstruktur. Program dilaksanakan oleh mahasiswa KKN UBT Kelompok 01 dengan mitra kelembagaan utama Pemerintah Desa Mendupo, PKK/kader posyandu, pengelola TBM, dan Karang Taruna, serta melibatkan warga, anak-anak, ibu hamil, dan keluarga balita sebagai sasaran kegiatan. Program dirancang terintegrasi pada tiga kegiatan prioritas: (1) penanaman dan penguatan kebun Tanaman Obat Keluarga (TOGA) sebagai upaya ketahanan kesehatan rumah tangga; (2) penguatan literasi anak melalui revitalisasi Taman Bacaan Masyarakat (TBM) dengan model belajar sambil bermain; dan (3) sosialisasi persuasif pencegahan stunting bagi ibu hamil serta ibu/pengasuh balita. Metode pelaksanaan menggunakan pendekatan critical participatory action research (CPAR) melalui tahapan koordinasi awal dan analisis situasi, perencanaan kolaboratif bersama mitra, pelaksanaan program melalui pendampingan praktik langsung, serta evaluasi-refleksi untuk menyusun tindak lanjut. Keberhasilan kegiatan tidak diukur melalui pretest-posttest formal, tetapi melalui evaluasi formatif berupa observasi partisipatif, logbook, dokumentasi, tanya jawab, tingkat partisipasi, dan refleksi bersama mitra pada akhir rangkaian kegiatan. Hasil menunjukkan meningkatnya pemahaman warga tentang manfaat dan perawatan TOGA, meningkatnya minat anak mengikuti kegiatan TBM ketika dipadukan dengan aktivitas kreatif (mendongeng, menggambar, mewarnai), serta menguatnya pemahaman bahwa stunting tidak semata faktor keturunan, melainkan terkait gizi, pola asuh, dan kebersihan lingkungan pada periode 1.000 HPK. Simpulan pengabdian menegaskan bahwa integrasi program kesehatan-literasi-pemberdayaan sumber daya lokal melalui kemitraan kampus dan desa efektif memperkuat kapasitas masyarakat dan layak direplikasi pada konteks pedesaan serupa.Kata Kunci: TOGA; TBM; Pencegahan Stunting; KKN; Pengabdian Masyarakat. ABSTRACTThis community service manuscript reports the main programs implemented during the University of Borneo Tarakan (UBT) Community Service Program (KKN) in Mendupo Village, Betayau Sub-district, Tana Tidung Regency, North Kalimantan, from 22 December 2025 to 30 January 2026. The activities were initiated in response to the need to strengthen village capacity in family health, children's literacy, and the use of local resources through more structured assistance. The program was carried out by UBT KKN Group 01 students in collaboration with four main institutional partners: the Mendupo Village Government, PKK/posyandu cadres, TBM managers, and Karang Taruna, while community members, children, pregnant women, and families with under-fives served as the main participants. The program integrated three priority activities: (1) the establishment and strengthening of a Family Medicinal Plant (TOGA) garden to support household health resilience; (2) revitalization of the Community Reading Park (TBM) through joyful literacy activities for children; and (3) persuasive education on stunting prevention for pregnant women and caregivers of under-fives. The method adopted a critical participatory action research (CPAR) approach covering initial coordination and situation analysis, collaborative planning with local partners, hands-on implementation, and evaluation-reflection to formulate follow-up actions. Program success was not measured through a formal pretest-posttest design; instead, formative evaluation was conducted through participatory observation, daily logbooks, documentation, question-and-answer sessions, participation records, and joint reflection with partners. Findings indicated that improved community understanding of the benefits and maintenance of medicinal plants, stronger children's engagement in TBM activities when reading was combined with creative tasks (storytelling, drawing, and coloring), and better awareness that stunting is not merely hereditary but is closely related to nutrition, caregiving, and environmental hygiene during the first 1,000 days of life. The manuscript concludes that integrating health, literacy, and local-resource empowerment through village-university partnership can strengthen community capacity and is worthy of replication in similar rural contexts.Keywords: TOGA; Community Reading Park; Stunting Prevention; KKN; Community Service.