The International Office (IO) of Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) successfully organised the Host Family: Experiencing Ramadan Like Home program on 13–15 March 2026 in Paccekke Village, Soppeng Riaja District, Barru Regency. The program aims to provide international students with the opportunity to experience Ramadan traditions and daily life within the Bugis–Makassar community.
Beyond cultural exchange, the program also supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through experiential learning, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting local culture and community engagement, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration between UNHAS, local communities, and the Barru Regency Government.A total of five international students were selected from more than a dozen applicants who registered for the program. The selection process was conducted internally by reviewing participants’ responses to questions about their motivation for joining the Host Family program and their potential contributions to cultural exchange.
The selected participants were Esra Ezaldeen Hassan Abo (Sudan, Faculty of Engineering), Faisal Saeed (Pakistan, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries), MD Razoan Karim (Bangladesh, Faculty of Engineering), Maqboolnoori (Afghanistan, Faculty of Dentistry), and Kwan Sau Ngor (Hong Kong, Faculty of Public Health).They were accompanied by three local UNHAS student buddies: Andi Milhan (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences), Nabila Samsabila, and Indira Nazwa Nandita (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences).
Prior to the trip, a virtual briefing session was held on 11 March 2026, providing participants with important information about Paccekke Village, including cultural guidelines (do’s and don’ts), items to bring, transportation arrangements, and the activity schedule. The session was delivered by Saaduddin, Ph.D, who served as the Person in Charge (PIC) of the Host Family 2026 program.