UNAIR NEWS – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Faculty of Humanities’ Student Executive Board (BEM) Universitas Airlangga, commenced the 2024 “Culture for Better Sustainability Environment” (CUBES) event on Sunday (September 1, 2024). CUBES is a program organized in collaboration with Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE).
On the first day of CUBES 2024, the organizers took ten international students from various countries to visit Kampung Lawas Maspati. The event was officially opened by Ni’matun Nazilah, the head organizer of CUBES 2024 and a History student at Universitas Airlangga. She hoped for the event’s success.
“I hope all of you have an extraordinary experience here. Enjoy your journey through Kampung Lawas Maspati and have fun learning about a new culture,” she stated.
The local residents of Kampung Lawas Maspati extended a warm welcome to both the committee and the international students. A tour guide was present to lead them through the village, introducing the visitors to its unique features.
Cultural Tourism Village in Surabaya
Dani, the tour guide, explained that Lawas Maspati is a cultural tourism village that regularly attracts international visitors. It is popular due to its unique educational programs and environmental initiatives, such as the cultivation of medicinal plants (toga).
In addition to environmental education, Kampung Lawas Maspati offers cultural experiences for international students. Local residents collaborate to teach various aspects of Indonesian culture, including lessons on Javanese script and performances of traditional dances like Jaranan and Remo.
After exploring Kampung Lawas Maspati, the group participated in a sharing session with local residents. During this session, a local resident named Suyatno shared the history of Kampung Lawas Maspati.
“Kampung Lawas Maspati initially gained recognition by frequently winning environmental competitions. With support from academics and community groups who often visited and suggested it become a cultural tourism village, we eventually decided to transform Kampung Lawas Maspati into a village focused on environmental and community empowerment,” explained Suyatno.
Preserving the Environment, Promoting Culture
Concluding the sharing session, Suyatno expressed his gratitude to the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Airlangga, and the international students for their visit. He hoped the village would continue to provide valuable education for many.
“I want to thank you all for visiting. I hope this visit provides new insights into culture, the environment, and other important topics,” he said.
Author: Selly Imeldha
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
