Edukasi Lingkungan dan Cross-Cultural Jepang melalui Program GARDEN Membentuk Generasi Eco-Cultural di Desa Jayamekar, Garut

Abstract

Jayamekar Village in Pakenjeng District, Garut Regency, West Java, is an agroforestry village with abundant natural and agricultural potential. Most residents work in agriculture, plantations, and forest product processing. However, its mountainous location places the village at high risk of natural disasters. At the same time, globalization has the potential to erode local cultural values, particularly among the younger generation, and educational awareness remains relatively low. Therefore, environmental education combined with motivational reinforcement through cultural collaboration is needed to foster a generation that cares for the environment and aspires to a better future. The GARDEN (Guardian of an Environment Resilient and Sustainable Eco-Cultural Generation) program aims to increase environmental awareness while providing creative learning experiences through cultural exchange. The program is implemented using participatory and practice-based educational methods for kindergarten and elementary school students in Jayamekar Village. Activities include making origami cranes as symbols of hope, coloring Japanese cultural images, disaster mitigation education, and planting seedlings using recycled bottles. The program shows increased environmental awareness and basic disaster mitigation understanding among students. Overall, GARDEN contributes to fostering a young generation that cares for the environment, appreciates cultural values, and is motivated to develop for the future.