Jakarta, 31 October 2025 – International students from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) proudly participated in the Festival Handai Indonesia (FHI) 2025, held at Le Meridien Hotel, Jakarta, from 25–31 October 2025.
The festival brought together 35 participants from 23 countries, including Timor Leste, Italy, Russia, the Philippines, Turkey, Pakistan, the United States, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Congo, Sudan, India, Yemen, Cambodia, Malaysia, Australia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Argentina, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Peru — along with 10 alumni from FHI 2024 representing seven nations.
This year, UMS sent seven student representatives who previously joined the 2024 edition as alumni delegates. They returned as senior participants, sharing their experiences and inspiring new Handai Indonesia from across the world. The UMS delegation included:
* Afissan Binetae (Thailand) – Master’s student in Chemical Engineering
* Hafiza Sana Mansoor (Pakistan) – Doctoral student in Educational Sciences
* Miss Nuro Sabuela (Thailand) – Master’s student in English Education
* Khanngeun Vongsawath (Laos) – Master’s student in English Education
* Uwase Shakilla (Rwanda) – Master’s student in Management
* Abdulrohim E-sor (Thailand) – Master’s student in Indonesian Language Education
* Mitantsoa Anjara Saotra Fenofitiavana (Madagascar) – Bachelor’s student in Public Health
In addition, Miss Najmee Dokhor (Thailand), an undergraduate student from the International Islamic Education program, proudly represented UMS in the Pantun (Poetry Recital) competition.
Expressing his gratitude, Abdulrohim E-sor, B.A., shared his reflections on the event:
“We are deeply thankful for this remarkable opportunity. Through FHI, we, as international students, feel even closer to Indonesia. Our love for this country grows stronger—it now feels like our second home,” he said on Saturday (8/11).
Organized by the Language and Literature Empowerment Center, Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa, Ministry of Education, the Festival Handai Indonesia is an appreciation program that celebrates Handai Indonesia—foreign nationals who can communicate fluently in Bahasa Indonesia and demonstrate an understanding of Indonesian culture and civilization.
FHI provides a platform for participants from around the globe to express their creativity and linguistic skills through five competition categories: Public Speaking, Storytelling, Poetry Reading, Singing, and Pantun Recital. More than just a language festival, FHI serves as a bridge of friendship, connecting people worldwide through the beauty of the Indonesian language.
UMS’ active participation in this event reaffirms its commitment to fostering global engagement and intercultural understanding through education and cultural exchange, in line with its vision to become a globally respected institution rooted in Muhammadiyah values.
