Edu Asia News,Kuala Lumpur – The Graduate School of Sustainable Development of Universitas Indonesia (GSSD UI) has taken its environmental outreach beyond national borders, conducting a cross-border community engagement initiative in Kuala Lumpur that introduced practical waste management and sustainable living practices to Indonesian migrant communities through hands-on, interactive learning.
The initiative, titled “Cross-Border Sustainability Initiative: Empowering Indonesian Migrant Workers through Sustainable Living Actions,” was supported by the World Class University Community Development Grant administered by Universitas Indonesia’s Directorate of Partnership and Internationalization Services and funded by LPDP. The program was led by Dr. Herdis Herdiansyah of GSSD UI’s Environmental Science Department, in collaboration with researchers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the International Islamic University Malaysia, and Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Rather than conventional classroom instruction, the program centered on experiential learning tailored to two distinct audiences: Indonesian migrant workers and their children.
At Rumah Hamka Malaysia, a community center managed by the Muhammadiyah Special Branch in Malaysia, migrant workers participated in an interactive session on sustainable household waste management built around a “Choose, Separate, and Process” framework for reducing household waste. The session concluded with a composting demonstration showing how kitchen scraps and organic waste can be converted into compost using affordable, replicable techniques.
The program continued at Sanggar Bimbingan Yakesma Wira Damai, where environmental education was delivered to children of migrant workers, many of whom have limited access to formal schooling due to their parents’ undocumented status. Organizers adopted a play-based learning approach, featuring EcoFunPoly, a large-scale educational board game designed to strengthen environmental awareness through collaborative challenges on waste sorting, recycling, and environmentally responsible decision-making.
The initiative was warmly received by local partners. A teacher at Sanggar Bimbingan Yakesma Wira Damai expressed hope that similar programs would continue, giving children greater opportunities to develop environmental awareness from an early age.
Dr. Zulfahmi of Universiti Utara Malaysia, one of the program’s collaborating partners, stressed the importance of sustained international collaboration in community engagement, noting that future programs should remain flexible around migrant workers’ schedules and align with partner universities’ academic calendars.
Beyond promoting sustainable waste management knowledge, the initiative highlights the role universities can play in advancing sustainable development through meaningful international partnerships, with GSSD UI continuing to strengthen environmental literacy and global academic collaboration beyond Indonesia’s borders. (*)
