Community

NOW! Jakarta’s community column opens up the magazine’s pages to the readers, allowing them to share their own insights and experiences of the city with other readers. Through ‘The Reader’s Dispatch,’ our audience can widen their perspective on how others experience Jakarta. What’s your favourite Jakarta ‘area’ or ‘neighbourhood’ and why? Dharmawangsa I love Dharmawangsa,

Looking ahead at the cultural institution’s programmes this 2026. Erasmus Huis was originally founded in 1970 on Jl Menteng Raya, Jakarta, with a strong emphasis on promoting Dutch language and culture, later relocating to the Dutch Embassy complex in Kuningan in 1981. Over the years, it has evolved into a dynamic, multi-disciplinary cultural centre presenting

2025 was an important milestone for the Institut Français d’Indonésie (IFI), coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Indonesia. This celebration was complemented by strengthened political engagement and the adoption of a new Joint Cultural Strategy that deepens cultural collaboration between the two countries. The visit of President Emmanuel Macron to

For more than six decades, Goethe-Institut in Indonesia has actively fostered understanding of German culture and language across Indonesia. Beyond language courses and examinations, the institute provides teacher training, cultural programming, and a library that offers both physical and digital resources. Director Constanze Michel outlines the areas shaping the institution’s mission today and the initiatives

Sadly, in this day and age, classical music is still widely perceived as a privilege, most often accessed by those who can afford private lessons, personal instruments, and uninterrupted time to practise. However, in a country where still 11.8 percent of children still live below the national poverty line (Bappenas, UNICEF, 2023), classical music education

Message by Reverend Rowan, Vicar of All Saints Anglican Church Jakarta Many years ago, I was given a plastic nativity scene. As a young child, I thought it was perfect – Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus were all there, along with some shepherds and a few sheep, as well as three kings and their

The Women’s International Club (WIC) Jakarta successfully hosted its 56th Annual Charity Bazaar on 19-20 November 2025, at Hall B of the Jakarta International Convention Center. The event once again brought together cultures, communities, and goodwill under one roof. This year’s bazaar was officially opened by the second lady, Selvi Gibran Rakabuming. Also in attendance

From a rural village in Lampung, Sumatra, emerged WayKan Coffee, a brand that carries not only the flavour of its land but also the resilience of its people. More than just coffee, it is a story of women’s empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and community growth. In Gunung Katun village, Way Kanan Regency, four hours by land

You’ve probably seen it: a small green frog on a bag of coffee, a bar of chocolate, or box of tea. But what does it actually stand for? The frog logo, found across 155 countries, is the Rainforest Alliance’s official seal of approval. It represents a global movement that connects farms, forests and consumers. In

Join the 21 Year Anniversary Fundraiser and Help Support Indonesian RugbySaturday, 1 November 2025 | Fundraising Event in Jakarta Rugby is not the first thing you think of when you think ‘Indonesian national sport,’ and this sentiment was even less believable two decades ago. With local rugby union clubs found in 25 out of 38

With the number of farmers on the decline, youth-led community movements like Seni Tani and AYO (Agriculture Youth Organisation) are key in addressing Indonesia’s future food security.  Indonesia, like much of the rest of the world, is witnessing a fall in its number of farmers, threatening the vast archipelago’s dream of being able to feed

Jakarta has seen a rise in board game cafes. What’s happening and where should you go?