Caring for the environment can start with the litter people pass on the road. For children in Sepi Hamlet, Jrakah Village, Selo District, Boyolali Regency, walking and picking up trash became a chance to get to know their surroundings and take responsibility for keeping them clean.

Students of the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta created this experience through an activity called “Pahlawan Bumi” (Earth Heroes) on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Part of the 2026 Tarbiyah Suka Mengajar (Tarbiyah Loves to Teach) program, the activity invited dozens of children of various ages to learn that caring for nature can be done through everyday actions.

That morning, the children walked through the hamlet collecting scattered trash. With guidance from the students, they also learned to identify which items can be recycled. The neighborhood became their classroom, and what they found along the way helped them understand why it matters to dispose of trash properly.

In this hamlet on the slopes of Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu, the lesson hits close to home. The natural beauty that surrounds the children's homes is something to be cared for through daily habits.

One of the children, Alviano, shared his enthusiasm for the activity. He said he enjoyed it because he learned about trash and felt motivated to keep his surroundings clean.

“Kak (Big Brother/Sister), I like this activity. Now I know which trash can be recycled, and I will always throw trash in the right place,” he said.

Dean of the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Dr. Sigit Purnama, explained that Tarbiyah Suka Mengajar is a community service and teaching program initiated by FITK UIN Sunan Kalijaga with support from Bank BPD DIY since 2019. This year, the program carries the theme “Belajar Ceria, Mengabdi Bersama” (Joyful Learning, Serving Together).

Over 14 days, he said, seven students from various study programs carried out their service in Sepi Hamlet. They brought what they have learned in the classroom to share through enjoyable learning activities rooted in the community's daily life.

The seven students are Muhammad Rasyid Fajarputra of Islamic Education, who serves as team leader; Nurul Laela Apriliani of Arabic Language Education; Nayla Mufida of Physics Education; Eka Zahrotun Ni'mah of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Teacher Education; Sahla Maulidatus Sa'idah of Islamic Early Childhood Education; Rifki Khoirun Nizam of Islamic Education Management; and Safira Syafa Kamila of Biology Education. They were accompanied by their field supervisor, Rachmad Resmiyanto, S.Si., M.Sc.

Through “Pahlawan Bumi,” the students' service took a concrete form: helping children understand the problems around them and try to do something about them. The idea of being a “hero” was introduced through actions the children can take themselves, from picking up trash to keeping their neighborhood clean.

Through Tarbiyah Suka Mengajar, UIN Sunan Kalijaga students seek to instill environmental awareness from an early age. The hope is that what the children learned in Sepi Hamlet will live on in their habits of caring for their home. From those habits, the knowledge shared during the program can grow into a sense of responsibility for the environment they share. (humassk)