A group of five students from Universitas Diponegoro completed a two-week Student Mobility program with Service Civil International (SCI) Malaysia, from August 6 to August 20, 2025. This collaborative initiative, supported by the university’s Student Go International and World Class University Program, occurred at Uncle Nicholas’ farm in Negeri Sembilan. The team members were Deska Anggoro Priyosaputro (Agroecotechnology), Muhammad Fikri Syaikal (Biology), Nayla Kanamona, Andhika Ramadhani R., and Ezequelle Nesyaras G. P. (all from Food Technology).
The program’s core was divided into two main components: hands-on fieldwork and engaging discussions. The team’s practical activities varied daily, providing a comprehensive learning experience in sustainable farming. Tasks included:
Land Management: Leveling the ground for a chicken tractor required teamwork and physical labor.
Resource Gathering: Collecting wood from a nearby hill for a communal campfire.
Farm Maintenance involves removing rotting fruit and trash to manage pests and maintain sanitation. Additionally, selected branches are pruned to optimize essential fruit-bearing branches, as they compete for sunlight.
Environmental Stewardship: Cleaning a nearby waterfall to preserve the local ecosystem.
Pest Control: We are replacing pheromone traps for fruit flies in the farm’s orchard and putting up yellow and blue stickers to trap insects around tree plantations.
Nursery Establishment: Building a nursery to produce high-quality seedlings that support sustainable farming practices.
For the initial seven days, the team collectively managed meal preparation. However, in a show of collaborative spirit, volunteers from SCI Malaysia, particularly Aunty Guna and Aunty Sue, graciously supported the cooking duties for the remainder of the program.
The program offered a rich intellectual experience through discussions with various experts:
Entrepreneurship: Uncle Nicholas, a seasoned entrepreneur, shared his philosophy of viewing challenges as opportunities.
Global Volunteering: Uncle Stephen promoted the core principle of “Peace” as central to SCI’s global movement, while Kak Nurul provided insights into global volunteer initiatives.
Agronomy and Conservation: Uncle Many, an agronomist, shared large-scale plantation techniques, and Uncle Tan discussed the biodiversity challenges within palm oil estates.
Holistic Development: Uncle Balan and Aunty Inba led a discussion on social psychology, rounding out the program’s interdisciplinary focus.
Beyond the farm, the group also took time to explore the vibrant culture of Kuala Lumpur, visiting iconic landmarks like the Petronas Tower and Bukit Bintang. They immersed themselves in local life by sampling Malaysian cuisine, such as Nasi Kandar, and exploring markets like RexKL and Central Market.
This program was a pivotal experience, bridging academic knowledge with practical application in a cross-cultural setting. The team expresses its sincere gratitude to all who made this impactful event possible and hopes the program will continue to be a positive force for future generations of students.
