BALIKPAPAN – Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) continues to encourage meaningful contributions from its academic community to society. Through a community service initiative, a team of lecturers and ten ITK students launched the “Pojok Baca Berdaya” program at Al-Muhajirin Orphanage in Manggar, East Balikpapan, on Saturday (September 12, 2026).

The activity, held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. WITA, involved children from elementary to senior high school levels. The learning sessions were designed to be interactive, with participants divided into small groups based on their educational level. Two-way discussions and practical simulations were used to make the materials easier to understand and more engaging.

The Pojok Baca Berdaya program focuses on three main areas: reading literacy, basic numeracy, and early financial education. During the financial literacy session, participants were introduced to the difference between needs and wants. The students also introduced a simple “Three-Pocket Method”—Needs, Savings, and Sharing—to help the children develop good habits in managing their daily money.

To strengthen their understanding, participants received Student Worksheets (LKPD) as practical tools for recording and preparing simple financial reports. Numeracy skills were also developed through buying-and-selling simulations based on situations commonly encountered in everyday life.

In addition to the learning activities, the ITK team reorganized the reading area and added a variety of educational books to create a more comfortable learning environment. These improvements are expected to foster greater interest in reading and encourage independent learning among the children at Al-Muhajirin Orphanage.

The program also incorporated a digitalization initiative. ITK Informatics students developed an official website for Al-Muhajirin Orphanage, designed to serve as an information platform, an activity gallery, and a means of public transparency. The website is expected to broaden the orphanage’s public outreach and make it easier for the community and prospective donors to access information about the institution, which has been operating since 1994.

The program provides benefits for both parties. Al-Muhajirin Orphanage receives support in the form of improved learning facilities, strengthened literacy programs, and enhanced digital communication. Meanwhile, ITK students, particularly those from the Actuarial Science and Informatics programs, gain a practical opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and skills in addressing real community needs.

Through Pojok Baca Berdaya, ITK demonstrates that community service goes beyond the transfer of knowledge. It can also be realized through interdisciplinary collaboration that delivers practical, sustainable, and technology-driven solutions for the community.