Patriot Expedition is a research-based community service movement that engages thousands of young Indonesians to take part in building the nation. This year, 2,000 youths from across the country were deployed to serve in 154 transmigration areas.
The main focus of the program is conducting research and mapping economic potential to support the achievement of Asta Cita set by the Prabowo Subianto–Gibran Rakabuming administration in transmigration regions. Through this research, the Patriot Expedition team will compile a development document on key commodities, complete with important attachments such as SWOT matrices, potential maps and commodity value chains, interview and FGD summaries, as well as spatial and economic datasets. Beyond research, participants also engage directly in community assistance and empowerment. For four full months, they work alongside residents, share knowledge, and encourage economic independence based on local potential.
Representatives from Universitas Padjadjaran’s Communication Science Program also took part in this initiative. One of the teams stationed in Sumatra was led by Ilkom lecturer Ikhsan Fuady, M.Si, alongside Nadia Febryani, M.Si, Defrio Saka Wahid, an alumnus from the class of 2019, Dahelia Saputri, and a student from another study program. Meanwhile, another Communication Science student, Lovie Harleyna, was assigned to the Lamunti–Dadahup transmigration area in Central Kalimantan.
The program officially ran from August 12 to December 9, with participants departing on August 26, 2025. Defrio was stationed in the Lagita Transmigration Area, North Bengkulu Regency, which covers three districts: Lais, Girimulya, and Ketahun. There, he carried out field research while directly engaging with local communities. Lovie undertook a similar mission in Central Kalimantan, though in a very different social and cultural context.
For Defrio, joining the Patriot Expedition was an invaluable experience. “Doing research on this scale and seeing its direct impact on the community makes the responsibility to advance the region feel very real—especially through a research-based development approach,” he said. He believes the program not only enriches one’s experience and portfolio, but also opens up academic networks and connections that are difficult to find in the classroom.
Lovie shared the same sentiment. “I’ve always enjoyed research, and the Patriot Expedition is the perfect opportunity to channel that passion while making a real contribution in the field,” she said.
Still, the journey was not without challenges. According to Defrio, limited road infrastructure, long distances between locations, and complex data collection bureaucracy were some of the hurdles. Lovie added that adapting to cultural differences and weather conditions outside Java also posed unique challenges, while limited facilities in the villages required participants to adjust even further.
Through a combination of in-depth research and direct community engagement, Ekspedisi Patriot is expected not to end merely as an academic document, but to truly deliver tangible benefits for communities in transmigration areas. In a broader context, Ekspedisi Patriot is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, through the mapping of local economic potential. For Defrio and Lovie, this experience serves as a valuable foundation to take further steps, not only as researchers or community facilitators, but also as young people who continue to contribute to the nation with knowledge, care, and a spirit of service.