VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Photo credit: kemlu.go.id

Today’s Miscellany takes you to the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan, to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of Indonesian students from Al-Ya’lu Elementary School in Malang City, East Java province. Theyhave successfully brought honour to the nation in the international arena.

On September 10, 2024, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan had the honor of receiving a special visit from Al-Ya’lu Elementary School students at the invitation of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan.

They wereinJapan to celebrate their achievement as the first winner in the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Japan - Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Award - SEAMEO Japan-ESD Award 2023. In this prestigious competition, they competed with 115 schools from various countries in Southeast Asia with innovative projects that focus on environmental conservation through renewable energy.

The Coordinator of the Socio-Cultural Information Function of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Muhammad Al Aulaalongwith the Education and Culture Attaché, Amzul Rifin, stated that this achievement reflects the role of Indonesian champion students as unofficial ambassadors of the country.

According to Al Aula, the students of Al-Ya'lu Elementary School in Malang City have shown the world thatThey have high creativity that is not only benefitsl for the surrounding environment but also contributes to creating a cleaner earth.

Furthermore, Al Aula also emphasized the importance of continuing to work and achieve achievements in various fields. He emphasized that the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo will continue to provide full support for the concrete efforts of the nation's children who can make achievements on the international stage, especially in Japan.

In the SEAMEO Japan-ESD Award 2023, Al-Ya’lu Elementary School stood out with their project in the Environmentally Friendly Behavior Innovation category. A 10-year-old Niki Ilahi along with her friends, managed to amaze the jury with programs,such as bamboo pellets and a micro hydro system for hatching duck eggs.

Their achievements brought a good name not only to the school,but also to Indonesia as a whole, showing that the creativity and environmental awareness of Indonesian children from an early age excels in the international arena.