March 2026 Edition
This month, as Indonesian students observed Ramadan and Idulfitri, ETAs found meaningful ways to engage with their students and communities. From carrying out special projects and activities to immersing themselves in cultural events and local Ramadan traditions, they made the most of this busy season.
We’re also excited to share a special feature on our Ramadan Bliss initiative. Learn how ETAs used additional funding to strengthen community connections and engagement during the holiday season.
Join us as we reflect on the transformative power of cultural exchange and the boundless potential it unlocks.
AMINEF American Program and Communications Teams
We welcome your thoughts and reflections.
Share which stories stood out, what teaching approaches sparked ideas, or which activities you’d like to explore further. Feel free to write to us at communications@aminef.or.id. Selected feedback will be featured in the next edition—and you may even receive a small token of appreciation from us.
A Season of Gathering in South Sulawesi
In March, Muslim communities worldwide celebrated Ramadan, a month of fasting and a time when daily life becomes centered around evening gatherings, reflection, and shared meals. ETA Sydney Grafals (SMKN 8 Makassar) took part in several iftar gatherings with teachers, students, and friends throughout the month, where everyone gathered to break their fasts in the.. Read More.
A Morning at Abigail Preschool
With SMKN 10 Makassar on leave for Ramadan celebrations, ETA Ruby Mead spent the month of March maximizing her free time with visits to other educational institutions around the city—one of which was Abigail Preschool, an English language learning school that develops students’ intelligence with creative and supportive stimulation based on early childhood developmental stages… Read More.
Iftar with the Teachers Badminton Club
On March 9th, ETA Victoria Djou and the Teachers Badminton Club gathered in the lobby of SMAN 5 to break the fast together. The iftar marked a warm continuation of relationships built over months of shared badminton practices at GOR Srikandi, where games often blended physical activity with spontaneous English conversation. During practices, teachers regularly.. Read More.
Christina Stoll, a few teachers, and Class 10.3 from SMAN 2 Palangkaraya got together to bukber (buka puasa bersama). The entire class of around 50 students, along with their homeroom teacher and their English teachers, Christina Stoll and Ibu Retno, gathered at a riverside restaurant to break their Ramadan fast together. Both Christian and Muslim.. Read More.
Last month, ETAs Emiko Wu and Jasmine Coley hosted a local fashion show in Kendari, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the surrounding region. This event highlighted the traditional fashion of four prominent local tribes: the Tolaki, Muna, Buton, and Bombana. In collaboration with Muhammadiyah University Kendari, the show brought together students from each community.. Read More.
Kendari Couture: Flashbacks of A Fashion Forward Day
Continuing the start of the year with an abundance of cultural exchange, ETAs Jasmine Coley and Emiko Wu organized and hosted a fashion show at Muhammadiyah University, Kendari. The fashion show celebrated four tribes in Southeast Sulawesi and featured 50 university students, including several international students, who strutted down the runway in traditional fashion. Jasmine.. Read More.
Ramadan Bliss: A Cross-Cultural Exchange
This past March, ETA Iyesha Belgrave hosted Ramadan Bliss, a cross-cultural event between SMA NU Al-Ma’ruf and Muslim students from Duke University. Over 150 students and teachers from Al-Ma’ruf had the opportunity to learn about how Ramadan is celebrated in America, and were able to share customs and traditions of Ramadan in Indonesia with Americans… Read More.
