Kalumpang, Malaysia – A spirit of togetherness and mutual cooperation characterized the Rewang Serumpun activity organized by students participating in Giat Internasional 6 of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and the local community at Inki River, Kalumpang, Malaysia, on August 3, 2026. The activity was part of the Giat Internasional 6 program in Malaysia and served as a platform for cultural interaction and exchange between Indonesian students and the Malaysian community.
Rewang Serumpun was carried out through the sharing and introduction of traditional foods from both countries. The Giat Internasional 6 students shared several Indonesian traditional foods, namely gethuk, pecel, and jamu, with the local community around Inki River. Meanwhile, bubur lambuk, a traditional Malaysian dish, became part of the culinary exchange, allowing participants to share and learn about local food traditions.
The activity involved Giat Internasional 6 students, UTM, and the local community of Kalumpang as both participants and partners. Interaction took place directly through the distribution and introduction of traditional foods. The activity was conducted collaboratively and interactively, emphasizing the spirit of “rewang serumpun”, which represents mutual cooperation, togetherness, and social solidarity between the Indonesian and Malaysian communities.
Through the sharing of food, students not only introduced the richness of Indonesian traditional cuisine but also had the opportunity to learn about Malaysian culinary traditions. Gethuk, pecel, and jamu served as a medium for introducing Indonesia’s cultural identity and diversity, while bubur lambuk provided an opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of the culinary heritage and traditions of the local community.
For the students, Rewang Serumpun also served as an experiential learning activity in an international environment. Direct interaction with the local community provided opportunities for students to develop communication skills, build social relationships, and understand cultural diversity through everyday experiences. In this way, the activity expanded students’ academic experiences beyond the classroom while fostering openness and appreciation for cultural differences.
The Rewang Serumpun activity is relevant to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through experiential learning and the development of students’ social and intercultural competencies. The activity also contributes to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, particularly by promoting and preserving cultural heritage through traditional cuisine.
Furthermore, the collaboration among Giat Internasional 6 students, UTM, and the local community supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. This cross-institutional and cross-border collaboration demonstrates that relations between Indonesian and Malaysian communities can be strengthened through simple activities that emphasize interaction, sharing, and mutual cooperation.
Ultimately, Rewang Serumpun was not merely a food-sharing activity but also served as a form of cultural diplomacy and intercultural learning. Through traditional cuisine, Indonesian students and the Malaysian community came together in a spirit of togetherness to learn about, appreciate, and strengthen relations between two neighboring communities as part of the broader Malay world.
