Head of the Jakarta Education Office Nahdiana said the program is designed to build a sustainability mindset early by using practical, real-world activities that reflect the challenges of modern urban life.
“The students are given a foundation in food security, environmental stewardship, and solutions to common urban issues,” she said in a statement on Saturday.
One of the program’s core activities is urban farming, which teaches students how limited urban land can be used productively to support local food supplies.
The program also introduces “urban scouting,” a reworked version of traditional scouting adapted to the realities of large metropolitan areas.
“Urban scouting helps students build resilience, understand urban risks, practice disaster mitigation, and develop problem-solving skills for city environments,” Nahdiana said.
She emphasized that education must go beyond classroom instruction by offering immersive experiences that shape character, compassion, and confidence, enabling children to become community problem-solvers.
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“Schools should serve as continuous learning hubs that encourage creativity and self-expression,” she added, expressing hope that the program will inspire students to help create a better future for Jakarta.
North Jakarta Mayor Hendra Hidayat voiced full support for the initiative, calling it an important effort to strengthen environmental awareness and promote a problem-solving mindset among young people.
He said the program helps prepare a generation that is academically capable, environmentally responsible, and ready to design solutions to urban challenges.
This year’s “Urban Sustainability Education” program involved 1,799 students from elementary, junior high, senior high, and vocational schools, including participants from underprivileged families, students with special needs, and members of the Jakarta diaspora.
The event centered on two main activities—Urban Farming and Urban Scouting—and also included educational workshops and cultural performances.
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Translator: Ilham Kausar, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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