Universitas Islam Malang (UNISMA) once again demonstrated its global engagement through an international community service program led by Novi Arfarita, a lecturer from the Faculty of Agriculture. The program, titled “Indonesia in Diversity (Do You Know Where Indonesia Is?)”, was held at the Yanagase Community Hall in Nishigiwa District, Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
Through an educational and interactive approach, Prof. Novi introduced Indonesia to Japanese community members, particularly children and youth. The session covered fundamental information about Indonesia, including its geographical location, the distance between Indonesia and Japan, total land area, number of islands, ethnic diversity, national language, and religious plurality, highlighting diversity as a core strength of Indonesia’s social and cultural identity.
The event was attended by 40 participants of various age groups, from children to adults, who engaged enthusiastically throughout the program. Prof. Novi effectively conveyed the key message about Indonesia’s rich diversity and cultural wealth. During the interactive session, participants were encouraged to ask questions and discuss various aspects of Indonesia, such as traditional customs, traditional attire, culinary diversity, and everyday social life.
A unique highlight of the program was a live cooking demonstration of two popular Indonesian dishes: nasi goreng (fried rice) and pisang goreng (fried banana). While preparing the dishes, Prof. Novi explained the ingredients, flavors, and cultural background of each meal, allowing participants to experience Indonesian culture through taste and storytelling.
Beyond cultural promotion, this community service initiative functioned as an important people-to-people bridge within Indonesia–Japan bilateral relations. Direct interaction was seen as a meaningful way to strengthen mutual understanding, foster tolerance, stimulate curiosity, and encourage critical thinking among younger generations.
Prof. Novi emphasized that introducing Indonesia’s cultural diversity to Japanese youth is a strategic step toward building stronger long-term relations. “Cross-cultural understanding can open doors for collaboration in many sectors, education, business, government, and even diplomacy,” she concluded.
