As part of the EQUITY Community Service Program Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Community Service Results Dissemination, a team from the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU)—consisting of Dr. Ir. Rahmi Karolina, S.T., M.T., IPM, GP, ASEAN Eng., Dr. Ir. Ika Puji Hastuty, S.T., M.T., IPM., Dr. Ir. Nursyamsi, S.T., M.T., and Ir. M. Agung Putra Handana, S.T., M.T.—together with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Fakhrurrazi Bin Ishak, conducted a visit and courtesy meeting at the Belawan I Village Office, Medan Belawan District.

The delegation was welcomed by Hasudungan Limbong, S.E., Secretary of Belawan I Village, who represented the local administration in supporting the implementation of the community service program in Kampung Nelayan Seberang, Belawan.

The program is themed “Strengthening Disaster Mitigation Education Through Augmented Reality and Virtual Simulations for Coastal Children in Support of SDG 13.” It aims to enhance coastal children's understanding of disaster risks and preparedness through the use of interactive and innovative digital technologies.

During the meeting, the community service team presented the achievements and planned activities of the program, including the use of Augmented Reality (AR) Tectonic Cards and virtual simulations as disaster education tools. These technologies are designed to help children better understand how disasters occur and learn appropriate mitigation measures in a more engaging and accessible way.

Hasudungan Limbong expressed his appreciation for the initiative undertaken by USU and UMPSA in providing disaster mitigation education to coastal communities. According to him, the program is highly relevant to Belawan, a region vulnerable to various natural hazards and climate change impacts.

“We highly appreciate the community service program conducted by USU and UMPSA. Disaster mitigation education for coastal children is an important step in building awareness and preparedness from an early age. We hope this program will provide sustainable benefits for the people of Belawan,” said Hasudungan Limbong.

The project leader, Rahmi Karolina, stated that collaboration among universities, local governments, and communities is a key factor in the success of community engagement initiatives. Through the FGD and dissemination activities, input from local authorities is expected to strengthen program implementation and maximize its impact on coastal communities.

The EQUITY Community Service Program FGD and Dissemination activity reflects the commitment of USU and UMPSA to supporting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Climate Action by enhancing disaster mitigation literacy and promoting the use of digital technology in community education.

The meeting was conducted in a warm and collaborative atmosphere and concluded with a group photo as a symbol of support from the Belawan I Village Government for community service initiatives aimed at strengthening coastal community resilience to disaster risks.