Semarang, May 17, 2026 – The Nusantara Children’s Week (Pekan Anak Nusantara, or PENA) is a flagship program of the Education Division of HIMPS, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), conducted in collaboration with the Harapan Semarang Community Foundation. This initiative took the form of an instructional and interactive engagement with children, centered around the theme, “Recognize Your Feelings, Cherish Yourself.” The theme was deliberately chosen as an effort to introduce the importance of mental health awareness from an early age, specifically focusing on identifying emotions, managing feelings, and fostering self-compassion. The event was held on May 17, 2026, in Kauman Village, Semarang City.
PENA 2026, organized by HIMPS, was successfully executed in accordance with the planned agenda. The activity was enthusiastically attended by children under the guidance of the Harapan Semarang Community Foundation. The entire sequence of events, from the opening to the closing ceremony, proceeded smoothly and with great spirit. The program was designed to be both educational and enjoyable, ensuring that the children could readily grasp the concepts being presented.
The event commenced with a session introducing basic emotions and mental health concepts to the children. During this session, participants were invited to identify a range of feelings—such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and disappointment—and to understand that experiencing each of these emotions is normal. The children were also given a fundamental understanding of the importance of self-love, mutual respect, and refraining from bullying their peers. The material was delivered interactively through lighthearted storytelling, simple questions, and an approach easily comprehensible to young learners.
Following the instructional session, an interactive quiz further heightened the participants’ enthusiasm. The children eagerly answered questions and demonstrated courage by sharing their opinions in front of their friends. Subsequently, the participants engaged in a creativity session called “Show Time: My Appreciation Book,” which served as a platform for children to express their feelings and write down positive affirmations about themselves. This activity aimed to boost self-confidence and help children understand the importance of self-love from an early age. Additionally, the event featured various educational games, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.
The session was led by guest speaker Natasya Agmy, from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Diponegoro, who delivered the material in a communicative, interactive, and engaging manner. Through simple explanations, question-and-answer sessions, simple games, and direct interaction with participants, the speaker ensured the children could easily absorb the core messages. The speaker also motivated the participants not to fear expressing their feelings and to always believe in their inherent worth.
The organizing committee successfully fostered strong collaboration with the Harapan Semarang Community Foundation, which provided steadfast support throughout the event. Overall, PENA 2026 achieved its objectives as an educational, interactive, and enjoyable platform for the participants. The event not only provided meaningful learning experiences for the children but also served as a means for university students to enhance their empathy, social awareness, communication skills, and hands-on community engagement.
Considering the participants’ enthusiasm, active involvement during the material delivery, interactive quiz, creative activities, and educational games, it can be concluded that the program’s goals were met exceptionally well. The children displayed remarkable excitement in following the entire series of activities and successfully understood the positive messages conveyed throughout the event.
The Nusantara Children’s Week (PENA) is expected to continue sustainably, serving as an inspirational educational platform and generating a positive impact on the community. It is hoped that this activity will not remain merely an annual program but will evolve into a joyful learning space for children, while simultaneously providing a social service avenue for students to continue spreading meaningful benefits to the wider community.