Speaker at The Jena Declaration Asia and Africa Symposium, Germany
In May 2025, I had the honor of serving as a speaker at The Jena Declaration Asia and Africa Symposium, hosted by Prof. Benno Werlen in Germany. The conference—held under the broader theme “Living Sustainability with Joy and Satisfaction: Exploring Key Features, Possibilities and Obstacles of Joyful Sustainable Acting”—brought together scholars, practitioners, and cultural leaders to explore innovative pathways toward sustainable futures grounded in cultural values.
My presentation, titled “Embrace Joyful Sustainability Through Culture,” highlighted the role of cultural knowledge, shared identity, and community heritage in fostering sustainable behavior that is joyful, locally rooted, and emotionally meaningful. Drawing on insights from Reconnecting With Your Culture (RWYC) initiatives across Asia, I emphasized how cultural revitalization can strengthen ecological awareness, intergenerational learning, and collective well-being.
The session “Reconnecting With Your Culture: Experiences in Asia” featured four invited speakers from Italy (Prof. Olimpia Niglio), Indonesia (Dr. Mira Sartika), and India (Prof. Rana P.B. Singh and Prof. Gireesh Kumar). Together, we presented case studies and methodological reflections on how cultural engagement can drive sustainability movements in diverse Asian contexts. This symposium marked an important step in expanding international dialogue on culture-based sustainability and strengthening global collaboration through The Jena Declaration network.
Link video of the conference:
https://www.youtube.com/live/MXQaTbRrnuY?si=qXFoM6XvoGx5TzYb
My presentation, titled “Embrace Joyful Sustainability Through Culture,” highlighted the role of cultural knowledge, shared identity, and community heritage in fostering sustainable behavior that is joyful, locally rooted, and emotionally meaningful. Drawing on insights from Reconnecting With Your Culture (RWYC) initiatives across Asia, I emphasized how cultural revitalization can strengthen ecological awareness, intergenerational learning, and collective well-being.
The session “Reconnecting With Your Culture: Experiences in Asia” featured four invited speakers from Italy (Prof. Olimpia Niglio), Indonesia (Dr. Mira Sartika), and India (Prof. Rana P.B. Singh and Prof. Gireesh Kumar). Together, we presented case studies and methodological reflections on how cultural engagement can drive sustainability movements in diverse Asian contexts. This symposium marked an important step in expanding international dialogue on culture-based sustainability and strengthening global collaboration through The Jena Declaration network.
Link video of the conference:
https://www.youtube.com/live/MXQaTbRrnuY?si=qXFoM6XvoGx5TzYb