UCIC x ITS Community Service Program at Desa Herbal Sukolelo
December 14th, 2025
By Universitas Ciputra International Community
Members of Universitas Ciputra International Community with the international students of Universitas Teknologi Sepuluh November.
On the 14th of December, the Universitas Ciputra International Community (UCIC), with the support of the UC Collaboration and Global Engagement (UC CAGE) department, partnered with international students from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, etc. studying in ITS (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember). Together, UCIC and the international students visited Desa Wisata Sukolelo, in Prigen Regency, to collaborate and provide the international students with an immersive, Indonesian-culture centric experience.
The program started at nine in the morning. The international students were picked up at the ITS Rectorate, and driven by microbuses to Desa Wisata Sukolelo, accompanied by UCIC members and a committee member from ITS. Sukolelo itself is known for being an eco-tourism destination in East Java, at the base of Gunung Ringgit-Arjuna, and for its proximity to the Jawi Temple, a syncretic Hindu-Buddhist temple dating back to the 13th Century from the Singhasari kingdom.
At Desa Sukolelo, the international students and UCIC members were welcomed by the village officials, and provided an explanation as to the history, background, and current purpose of the village. They then participated in some bonding activities, such as introductions, icebreaking games, and more, before proceeding to lunch time.
Students joining a Greenhouse Tour in Desa Sukolelo
After lunch, their next activity was to take a small tour around the herbal village whilst learning about its products and its processes. The village’s output for itself and the surrounding communities included Jamu (herbal drinks), Peyek (flour chips), Minuman Telang (butterfly pea drinks), et cetera.
Students cooking local produce with the residents of Desa Sukolelo.
Following the tour, they were given the opportunity to try making these products themselves, including the herbal drinks (in powder form), the butterfly pea drink (through straining and infusion), and tempeh chips (in the oil cooking process). This was intended to immerse them more in the annals of Indonesian culinary culture, and familiarize them with traditional Indonesian food and drink.
Students showcasing the herbal drinks they produced.
Soon afterwards, the UCIC members accompanied the international students to a Catholic Church, Bethel Injil Sepenuh Hosanna Pandaan, where they distributed the results of their work: the traditional snacks and drinks to the congregation. This was directed towards the local community as a form of tangible appreciation, for being willing to provide UCIC and the international students their time to learn. They also held dinner at the church, where the pantry served them well.
The UCIC x ITS Community Service Program ultimately helped strengthen the bond that ITS’ international students felt with Indonesia and its culture, while allowing them to help and engage with the locals that empowered them to bring such a remarkable event through interactive activities and social immersion.