By: Divya Sanjay (Vice President of AIYA Jawa Barat)

Edited and Translated by Tri Nurmalina Pambudi

The original article is written in Indonesian. Click here to read!

Valentine’s Day, also known as Hari Kasih Sayang, falls on February 14 and is widely celebrated in many parts of the world, including Australia. In Indonesia, however, not everyone celebrates it due to cultural or religious reasons.

This year, AIYA Jawa Barat offered a fresh take on Valentine’s Day — local, creative, and full of meaning. Held at Munca Cafe in Bandung on February 15, 2025, the event marked AIYA Jabar’s first program of the year by combining an offline Language Exchange (LX) session with flowercraft making. The idea came from Muhammad Arman Khoiri, the Events Division Coordinator of AIYA Jabar, with the help of his fellow team members.

Despite limited preparation time and a modest budget, the event was successfully carried out in a warm and cheerful atmosphere. While the number of participants fell short of the target, those who attended left with smiles on their faces, having gained new experiences and expanded their networks.

The event began with an introduction to the Language Exchange and a tutorial on how to create flowercraft using simple materials like paper, tissue, paint, and glue. Each participant crafted flowers in different shapes and colors, including red, orange, pink, and gold — each choice holding personal meaning.

About ten minutes after the tutorial, the Language Exchange session started with light-hearted and reflective questions about Valentine’s Day, such as “What’s your favorite romantic song?”, “What does your ideal date look like?”, and “What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?” These conversations flowed naturally while everyone was focused on assembling their flowercraft.

Over the course of three hours, participants enjoyed a mix of cross-cultural conversation and creative activity in a relaxed and cozy setting. It truly felt like an intimate workshop to kick off the new AIYA Jabar period and build stronger connections.

The AIYA Jawa Barat team would like to thank all participants and looks forward to welcoming everyone again at future events.