UMPSA Indonesian students experience the life of foster families in Pahang

PEKAN, 10 March 2024 – The Centre for International Relations (CIR), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) sent four Indonesian undergraduate and postgraduate students to participate in the Kembara Prihatin 2.0@Pekan Programme.

The programme, in collaboration with Yayasan UMPSA, aimed to provide an opportunity for students to experience the lives of foster families in Pahang through various activities.

The three-day programme took place from 8 to 10 March 2024 at Masjid At-Taqwa, Peramu, Pekan.

It is a continuation of the programme held the previous year, with emphasis on students from Sabah and Sarawak, and also improved involving international students from Indonesia.

Among the activities held were religious talks, activities with host families, barbecues and traditional sports such as duck catching, tug of war, sukaneka and treasure hunting.

This programme provided opportunities for students to get involved in local community life around Peramu Jaya, Pekan, as well as establish relationships with their foster families.

According to the Director of the Centre for International Relations, Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Azmir Mohd Azhari, this programme aimed to provide students with a deeper experience and understanding of the culture and life of the local community.

“I hope that this programme can continue to be carried out as a platform for cultural exchange and strengthening relations between students from various backgrounds, especially international students,” he said.

Students who participated in this programme gave positive feedback and expressed that they had a valuable experience and were grateful for the warm response received from their foster families.

They hoped that this kind of programme could be continued and expanded to provide more opportunities for students to understand and appreciate cultural diversity in Malaysia.

According to Nuraini Lusi, the experience gained through this programme was an experience that cannot be described in words.

“Through interaction with my foster family, I was able to see the life of the local community from a different angle.

“I also learned a lot about their customs and culture that are different from my culture in Indonesia.

“It was a very rewarding experience for me,” she said enthusiastically.

The Kembara Prihatin 2.0@Pekan Programme is expected to continue to be held in the future as an effort to strengthen further the relationship between university students and the local community and increase international understanding among the younger generation.

By: Muhammad Zufli Zuhari, Centre for International Relations

Translation by: Dr.  Rozaimi  Abu  Samah, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology