My international experience in Jakarta was a deeply meaningful opportunity to engage directly with community-led education initiatives and understand how grassroots organisations create impact with limited resources. Working alongside local teachers, volunteers, and community partners, I supported activities focused on early childhood education, literacy development, and student engagement. Through small-group reading sessions, creative learning activities, and interactive workshops, I saw firsthand how supportive learning environments can build confidence, curiosity, and foundational skills among young children.
Beyond classroom activities, the experience highlighted the importance of collaboration between schools, families, and local institutions. Community partnerships, such as safety awareness sessions conducted with emergency response teams, demonstrated how education extends beyond academic instruction to include wellbeing, safety, and social development. Observing how local educators adapt creatively to space and resource constraints also reinforced the importance of locally informed solutions rather than one-size-fits-all development approaches.
This experience strengthened my appreciation for culturally grounded leadership and the value of listening before acting when working in international settings. It also reinforced my commitment to using research, leadership, and cross-cultural collaboration to contribute to sustainable education and community development initiatives in the future.