USD Delegation Sows Hope and Cultivates Fraternity at AJCU-AP Service Learning Program 2025
SDU – Sanata Dharma University (SDU) assigned six students and one faculty companion to participate in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Asia Pacific (AJCU-AP) Service Learning Program (SLP) 2025 at Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City, Philippines, on August 2-16, 2025.
This program, themed “One with Nature,” brought together students from eight institutions spread across five countries. The USD delegation consisted of Rafael Nugroho Putra Susanto (English Letters), Sebastianus Gaga Bani (English Letters), Edward Vito Brata Yuwana (Informatics), Gabriela Selomita Rumondor (Mathematics Education), Aileen Komala Widjaja (Psychology), Gabriel Yohan Enggalim Kobak (Pharmacy), and Intan Putri Hapsari as the faculty companion from the Biology Education Study Program.
Cross-Cultural Experience
This program invited participants to encounter cross-cultural experiences while deepening their social, spiritual, and environmental awareness. Participants came from Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, and Timor Leste.
“Feelings of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty instantly disappeared when we were all united by a sense of warmth, curiosity, and a desire to get to know one another,” said Rafael Susanto, recounting his initial experience meeting delegates from other countries during lunch at Short Highland Park.
Immersion and Conservation Activities
Immersion activities that required participants to stay with local families in Balatasan and Punta Tarawal provided valuable lessons about the simplicity of life. Gabriel Yohan remembered the warm welcome from residents who were able to smile and be warm despite their simple lives.
“They are still able to smile, remain friendly, and be warm despite living in simplicity,” said Gabriel Yohan. The program also involved direct conservation activities such as “Forest in Our Midst/Tree Nurturing” and “Mangrove Planting.” Rafael wrote a reflection on his experience planting mangroves for the first time abroad, which made him determined to continue similar actions in Indonesia.
A Moment of Reflection in Nature
The visit to Malabsay Falls was one of the most memorable moments. Edward Vito wrote about his experience, “Felt like being hugged by nature… We seemed so small compared to the fall,” reminding us of humanity’s place as part of nature, not its ruler.
Aileen Komala Widjaja also found peace in the spacious grounds of the Sacred Heart Formation Center, where participants stayed. “After the activities were over, I was able to walk around the monastery while enjoying the fresh air and tranquility of the surroundings,” she said.
Personal Transformation
Sebastianus Gaga Bani considered SLP to be an “inner journey” that has made him more sensitive to the voices of nature and his fellow human beings. “For me, SLP is not just a community service program, but an inner journey that has shaped a new awareness that nature is not something outside of myself, but a part of myself,” he said.
Gabriela Selomita Rumondor felt an energy that made her feel relieved. “Activities like SLP make me feel energized, and the waterfall invites me to love deeply and be grateful for everything,” she said.
The AJCU-AP Service Learning Program 2025 not only provided academic experiences but also served as a means of character development and environmental awareness for participants. Each delegate returned home with hope, new friendships, and a renewed commitment to living in harmony with nature.
RNP/AMJ