The Construct of Community Empowerment through Social Compass Strategy: Case Study of Empowerment in Processing Waste and Water Hyacinth

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Community empowerment is an effort to provide power or strength for the community to be independent and get away from problems they have been through. Community empowerment is a concept of economic development encapsulating social values. A cooperative is one of the institutions that is suitable for rural community development in an effort to empower their economic level. This is because cooperatives have the principle of mutual cooperation, a sense of togetherness, and a sense of family. This research is motivated by various empowerment strategies implemented in each community empowerment agency. Heterogeneous environmental conditions become consideration in implementing empowerment strategies for communities. Empowerment strategy becomes the main capital to attract the attention of communities to seriously support this empowerment program. The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation of the empowerment strategies used at this institution, namely the KKB (Koperasi Bangkit Bersama or Cooperative of Rise Up Together), in Bandung Barat Regency, West Java, Indonesia. This research is conducted to analyze the social compass applied. This study uses qualitative methods of observation, interviews, and documentation studies. The applied social compasses are: resources, technology, knowledge, values, goals and felt needs, norms, positions and roles, power leadership and influence, sanctions, and space relations. The conclusion obtained from this study is that the applied social compasses can create an independent community in looking for family livelihood, prosperity, and good character. The study, then, gives the following suggestion: for the progress of this institution, the program of curriculum has to be more organized and clarified, so that the learning achievements of the community can be clearly seen. KEY WORDS : Strategy; Social Compass; Empowering Community; Cooperative Institution . About the Authors: Dr. Ade Sadikin Akhyadi is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Community Education FIP UPI (Faculty of Education, Indonesia University of Education), Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi No.229 Bandung 40154, West Java, Indonesia. Dr. Irma Savitri Sadikin is a Lecturer at the Department of English Education, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, Esa Unggul University, Jalan Arjuna Utara No.9, Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta 11510, Indonesia. For academic interests, the Authors are able to be contacted via e-mails address at: ades.akhyadi@upi.edu and irma.savitri@esaunggul.ac.id Suggested Citation: Akhyadi, Ade Sadikin & Irma Savitri Sadikin. (2020). “The Construct of Community Empowerment through Social Compass Strategy: Case Study of Empowerment in Processing Waste and Water Hyacinth” in EDUCARE: International Journal for Educational Studies , Volume 13(1), August, pp.27-48. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI with ISSN 1979-7877 (print) and ISSN 2621-587X (online). Article Timeline: Accepted (June 1, 2020); Revised (July 3, 2020); and Published (August 30, 2020).