Secondary 2 & 3 Cultural Immersion Trip to Surabaya, Indonesia 2025

From 3 to 6 June 2025, our Secondary 2 and 3 students travelled to Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, for a 4-day, 3-night cultural and immersion programme.

Seventeen students, together with four teachers, enjoyed a rich cultural experience. At landmarks such as the Majapahit Hotel and Heroes Monument, they learnt about Indonesia’s fight for independence from the Dutch. Visits to the Cheng Ho Mosque, the Blue Mosque, and Hong Tiek Hian Temple also gave them a deeper understanding of Surabaya’s cultural and religious diversity, as well as Indonesia’s multicultural heritage.

The warm welcome from our partner school, SMPK St Vincentius, made the trip even more special. The school had planned a meaningful programme that gave our students insights into Indonesian and East Javanese traditions. They took part in activities such as the Remo Traditional Dance, learning to play the Angklung, and making the traditional food, tempe.

Another highlight was a visit to a local orphanage. Here, our students put into practice what they had learnt in the Community Youth Leadership Programme. They organised fun activities such as board games and keychain-making for the children. This allowed them to be role models and make a positive impact.

Through these experiences, our students developed a deeper appreciation of Indonesian culture. More importantly, they learnt the value of being active contributors and changemakers—lessons that will stay with them beyond the trip.