Ecoprinting Workshop for Psychiatric Hospital Surakarta Residents

A total of 24 rehabilitation patients at Rumah Sakit Jiwa Daerah (Psychiatric Hospital Surakarta) dr. Arif Zainudin Surakarta had the opportunity to participate in a creative workshop titled “Eco-Printing Education”, organized by lecturers and students from the Chemical Engineering Department at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS).

Held on Tuesday (20/5/2025), the workshop opened with a warm welcome from the Head of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit at RSJD dr. Arif Zainudin Surakarta, Dr. Aliyah Himawati, Sp.K.J. She expressed appreciation for this educational collaboration.

In her remarks, Aliyah stated that creative training activities are highly beneficial for boosting the spirit and creativity of rehabilitation patients as part of their recovery process.

“The hope is that the products made by the rehabilitation patients can later be sold in the hospital’s gallery, similar to last year’s soap-making community service project,” she said on Wednesday (28/5/2025).

Two Chemical Engineering UMS lecturers, Dr. Siti Fatimah, M.Sc., and Dr. Ir. Ahmad Fuadi, M.T., also gave remarks, emphasizing the importance of introducing environmentally friendly technologies such as ecoprinting as a form of practical and inclusive education.

Lecturers and students from UMS Chemical Engineering Department took a group photo with the rehabilitation patients at RSJD Surakarta on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 

“This activity is part of community service and a tangible example of the university’s role in empowering communities,” the two lecturers stated.

Ecoprinting is a technique for printing natural patterns from leaves and flowers onto fabric without using harmful chemicals. The participants were divided into eight groups, with three people per group. The rehabilitation patients had the opportunity to try creating their own patterns, assisted by Chemical Engineering students from UMS.

The enthusiasm of the rehabilitation patients was evident through their active participation in each session. The activity not only provided new knowledge but also served as an enjoyable and calming form of art therapy.

Through this creative training, it is hoped that new interests will be sparked within the rehabilitation patients, encouraging them to continue creating and learning, while also fostering awareness of the importance of protecting the environment through creative approaches.

Writer: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid