Heaptalk, Jakarta — In an era where globalization and modern influences increasingly shape young minds, a student-led initiative is striving to reintroduce and preserve one of Jakarta’s oldest cultural heritages — Betawi culture — through an educational campaign involving local schools and government bodies.
The program, titled #BerbudayeDiCilincing, is an initiative under RUNCING (Ruang Belajar Untuk Cilincing means Study Space for Cilincing) — a non-thesis educational project by students from the LSPR Institute of Communication and Business. Focused on UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, the program aims to promote local culture among students by bringing them directly to one of the city’s historic sites — Rumah Si Pitung, part of the Jakarta Maritime Museum in Marunda, North Jakarta.
In partnership with the North Jakarta Department of Culture, Jakarta’s Department of Tourism and Creative Economy (Parekraf Jakut), and the Jakarta Maritime Museum Management Unit, RUNCING invited students from SMPN 290 Marunda to engage in a series of interactive workshops designed to introduce them to traditional Betawi arts and practices.
The learning activities are based on Jakarta Governor Regulation No. 11/2017 on preserving Betawi cultural icons and are divided into six thematic stations: a tour of Rumah Si Pitung, Betawi traditional dance and silat (martial arts), traditional attire, music, culinary arts, and ondel-ondel handicrafts.
“This program is not only about education, but also about reviving and celebrating our local heritage,” said Thendrian Liunardi, chair of the RUNCING program. “Through an interactive and engaging format, we want to show that there are living cultural spaces in Cilincing where students can learn and experience Betawi culture firsthand.”
The program also received support from local Abang None Jakarta Utara ambassadors, who participated as instructors in several stations, including traditional clothing and dance. Saleisya, one of the participating ambassadors, underscored the importance of youth involvement in cultural preservation.
“With the influx of foreign culture, it’s more important than ever for younger generations — especially those of us involved in tourism — to promote and protect our local traditions,” she said.
Ms. Devi, principal of SMPN 290 Marunda, welcomed the initiative, noting that Betawi culture is not yet part of the formal curriculum in schools. “This program fills a gap in our education system by offering students direct exposure to local culture,” she said.
The event also drew praise from cultural practitioners. Syafei, an ondel-ondel artisan and instructor during the event, highlighted the enthusiasm of the students and the professionalism of the organizers. “The children were so eager to learn, and the team behind RUNCING did a great job in bringing this cultural learning to life,” he said.
Mr. Sumardi, site manager of Rumah Si Pitung, said the RUNCING initiative aligned well with the museum’s mission to preserve and promote Betawi culture. He emphasized the symbolic power of the program’s name.
“‘Runcing’ in Indonesian means sharp — like the tip of a knife or an arrow. But it also represents sharp thinking and precise action,” he said. “It reflects the vision and mission that this program holds for educating future generations.”
As part of the campaign, RUNCING also launched a digital e-book on Betawi culture, using references from the 2024 Abang None Jakarta Utara booklet. The e-book is accessible via QR codes placed at Rumah Si Pitung and SMPN 290 Marunda.
Earlier this month, RUNCING held a pre-event walking tour open to the public, aimed at raising awareness of Betawi culture and recruiting volunteers for the program. This marks the second major public event by RUNCING, following a previous initiative focused on community-based learning in Kampung Baru Nelayan, also in Cilincing.
The main event runs from April 23 to 24, and is a testament to how youth-driven initiatives can bring cultural heritage into the classroom — and beyond.
