Celebrating Kartini Day Through Creative Learning and Cultural Activities at Sanggar Merah Merdeka

During the second week of the community service program, held on April 21, 2026, learning activities at Sanggar Merah Merdeka were specially organized to commemorate Kartini Day. The activities were designed to enhance children's creativity while introducing them to the values of perseverance, courage, and empowerment embodied by one of Indonesia’s most influential female figures, R.A. Kartini. The program involved two groups of participants: a younger group consisting of early childhood learners and an older group consisting of children in the early years of elementary school.

The activities were facilitated by students from the Early Childhood Education Program (PG PAUD) of Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA) and youth volunteers from the learning center, namely Annisa, Oktaviani, Andiena, and Syailla. They actively guided and supported the children while creating a comfortable, interactive, and enjoyable learning environment. Before the main activities began, the children participated in an ice-breaking session involving songs and movement activities to increase their enthusiasm and prepare them for learning. This session successfully helped the children feel more relaxed, focused, and engaged.

Following the ice-breaking activity, the facilitators shared a short story about the life and contributions of R.A. Kartini using simple and child-friendly language. After the storytelling session, the children were asked several easy questions to assess their understanding of the story. Many of the children were able to answer correctly, identifying who Kartini was and explaining some of the values she fought for, although a few still required additional guidance and clarification.

For the younger group, the learning activity continued with a fan-making craft project designed to encourage creativity. The children decorated handmade fans using colored paper, pictures, and various craft materials. Throughout the activity, they showed great enthusiasm while choosing colors and decorating their fans with batik-inspired patterns and images of R.A. Kartini. Although some children needed assistance in using the materials and following instructions, they were able to complete their projects successfully. This activity also supported the development of fine motor skills and creative expression.

Meanwhile, the older group participated in a traditional puppet-making activity inspired by R.A. Kartini. Using paper-based materials, the children created simple puppets while expressing their creativity through different designs and decorations. They appeared highly motivated and engaged throughout the process. While several students were able to follow the instructions independently, others still required guidance, particularly when assembling the different parts of the puppet.

Overall, the Kartini Day celebration provided a meaningful and enjoyable learning experience for the children. Through storytelling, arts and crafts, and cultural activities, participants not only learned about the legacy of R.A. Kartini but also developed their creativity, confidence, and appreciation for Indonesian culture and history.