Jakarta, 17 July 2026 – Urban farming offers young people opportunities to learn how to grow food, manage resources, work collaboratively, and contribute to more sustainable communities (Johansson, 2024). Inspired by its potential, four BINUS University’s international students from Cambodia and the Philippines launched “No Farms, No Future,” a community empowerment initiative under the Ambassadorship Project for recipients of the BINUS World-Class Scholarship.

Led by Business Management and Marketing student Diana I. Guingab, the project brought together international students and BINUS University volunteers from iBuddy+ to work with the surrounding community. Since many international students reside at BINUS Square in Kemanggisan, the team collaborated with its Student Support Office to build connections with local residents and support the project’s implementation.

(Photo Editor: Mufti Al-Warits & Andi D. Ahnafandra)

“This was my first Ambassadorship Project working directly with a local community rather than through an organization. As the team leader, one of my biggest challenges was clearly communicating the project’s scope while understanding and managing the community’s expectations. The process was not always easy, but seeing the event come together successfully made it both enjoyable and rewarding. It taught me how to become a more adaptable leader, a better communicator, and a stronger collaborator,” Diana added.

The collaboration gradually turned a limited urban space into a community garden. Twenty-five residents contributed to the process, combining simple construction, recycled materials, and locally relevant crops.

Five of the participants assembled multi-level wooden planting shelves, while the gardening group reused plastic bottles to grow Brazilian spinach, tomatoes, and chilies commonly used in local cooking. Other residents practiced fermenting household organic waste into eco-enzymes, a natural liquid commonly used for household cleaning and gardening, demonstrating how everyday materials could support both food production and waste reduction.

(Photo Editor: Mufti Al-Warits & Andi D. Ahnafandra)

Supporting this process were student volunteers who connected the international team with the community, helping ensure that instructions, expectations, and ideas were clearly understood.

“Joining this project gave me valuable experience in organizing a community service initiative alongside international students. I learned how to serve as a communication bridge between the team and residents, whose warm response helped the activities run smoothly. I was happy to contribute to creating a mini garden for the community and grateful for the opportunity to meet and collaborate with people from different backgrounds,” shared Natasha Casey Gunawan, a Psychology student who joined the project as a volunteer.

The collaboration described by Natasha was central to the project’s purpose. For Marcelino L. F. Yappy, who mentored the project, its longer-term value lies in helping residents develop practical skills to care for the garden, reuse household materials, and apply sustainable practices in their daily lives.

(Photo Editor: Mufti Al-Warits & Andi D. Ahnafandra)

This “No Farms, No Future” initiative is part of BINUS University’s broader commitment to the community in Kemanggisan, where the university has been present for 45 years. Through various outreach and empowerment programs, BINUS has consistently worked to strengthen local communities.

By entrusting our international students with developing a community-managed urban garden, the Ambassadorship Project connects sustainability education with local needs while encouraging residents to grow food, reuse household materials, and maintain the garden independently. The project also strengthens international students’ role as active contributors to the communities surrounding the university.

Author: Mita Adhisti | Editor: Debby Sonita Lubis