The CLEAN (Creative Literacy and Environmental Action) Program has introduced an educational holiday alternative for elementary school children by combining literacy development with life skills through crafts made from used materials. The program was initiated by Giyatmi and Arin Arianti from the English Education Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara, and published in January 2026 in the Journal of Community Service Bestari (JPMB).
The initiative addresses growing concerns over excessive gadget use among children during school holidays. By engaging children in creative activities and reflective writing, the program strengthens literacy habits, creativity, and environmental awareness from an early age.
Excessive Screen Time During School Holidays
School holidays often leave elementary-aged children with unstructured time at home. In many cases, this leads to prolonged use of gadgets and television, which can reduce social interaction, creativity, and engagement with the surrounding environment.
Responding to this issue, the CLEAN Program was designed as an educational recreation model that transforms holiday time into productive and enjoyable learning experiences. The approach integrates hands-on crafts with simple literacy activities to keep children actively involved.
Participatory Activities Using Simple Materials
The program was implemented over four days and involved four elementary school students from different grade levels. Activities were conducted daily from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., using a participatory approach that positioned children as active participants.
Children created various crafts from easily available used materials, including goodie bags from gift wrapping paper, piggy banks from plastic bottles, pencil holders from recycled bottles, and bookmarks from origami paper. Each craft session was followed by a literacy activity in which participants wrote short reflections, descriptions, or step-by-step notes in simple journals.
Key Findings from the CLEAN Program
The implementation produced several clear outcomes:
- All participants successfully completed their craft projects.
- Children were able to write reflections appropriate to their age and grade level.
- Participants reported feeling happy, proud, and confident about their work.
- Writing activities helped children express ideas and experiences in simple language.
- Environmental awareness increased through direct recycling practices.
Differences in writing ability were observed between lower and upper grade students, but guided questions enabled all participants to complete the literacy tasks successfully.
Implications for Education and Community Learning
According to Giyatmi of Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara, integrating crafts with literacy activities offers an effective form of contextual learning for children. The program supports motor skill development, creativity, writing practice, and environmental responsibility in a single, cohesive activity.
Beyond individual learning outcomes, the program also encouraged social interaction and collaboration among children from different schools and grade levels. The authors highlight that the CLEAN model can be adopted by elementary schools, community learning centers, and families as a meaningful alternative to gadget-centered holiday activities.
Author Profiles
- Giyatmi, S.Pd., M.Pd.- Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara.
- Arin Arianti, S.Pd., M.Pd. - Universitas Veteran Bangun Nusantara.
Research Source
Giyatmi & Arianti, A. (2026).
CLEAN (Creative Literacy and Environmental Action) Program: Integrating Literacy and Life Skills through Crafts from Used Goods for Elementary School Children to Fill Their School Holidays.
Journal of Community Service Bestari (JPMB), Vol. 5 No. 1, January 2026, pp. 1–20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jpmb.v5i1.550
URL: https://nblformosapublisher.org/index.php/jpmb
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