The cheerful laughter of children echoed across the PT Letawa Grandstand in Martajaya Village, Tikke Raya District, Pasangkayu Regency, West Sulawesi, from the early hours of the morning. Nearby, teachers exchanged ideas, parents proudly accompanied their children as they showcased their best work, and local residents enthusiastically explored educational booths spread throughout the festival grounds.
The vibrant atmosphere reflected the spirit of togetherness that defined the Celebes Education Festival (CEF) 2026, organised by Astra Agro on 19–20 June 2026. Held annually, the festival serves as a platform where education, creativity, and community empowerment come together under one shared purpose: growing together.
For Astra Agro, education extends far beyond the classroom. Every conversation, experience, and collaboration is part of a learning journey that shapes character, builds confidence, and creates opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive.
Throughout the festival, students were encouraged to grow in their own unique ways. Some discovered their confidence on stage, others demonstrated dedication behind the scenes, while many embraced the opportunity to perform in public for the very first time. Artistic performances by students from both Astra Agro schools and partner schools opened the event, showcasing their talent, creativity, and enthusiasm.
Environmental awareness was another key theme woven throughout the festival. A recycled fashion show demonstrated that sustainability can be expressed through simple yet meaningful creations—even by children. Each performance reflected not only creativity but also the courage to express oneself, making every presentation an important part of the students’ learning journey.
The Celebes Education Festival was more than a stage for student performances. It also provided a series of discussion forums and workshops designed to equip teachers, parents, and community members with knowledge relevant to today’s social and educational challenges.
One highlight was the “Speak Up, Stand Safe: Anti-Sexual Harassment Workshop for Educators.” During the session, Imelda Riris Damayanti, recipient of the SATU Indonesia Awards 2025 in the Education category and Co-Founder of Never Okay Project, encouraged educators to reaffirm their vital role in creating safe learning environments and protecting children.
A similarly inspiring atmosphere was created during the Women’s Empowerment session led by Trivena Nalsalita, Head of Administration and Finance at Perempuan Astra, where participants explored the importance of empowering women to reach their full potential.
Astra Agro’s commitment to building sustainable communities was also reflected in environmental education activities. Together with Sri Suhartini from the Integrated Waste Processing Creative Park (TAKESI), participants learned that meaningful environmental change can begin with simple everyday habits, such as separating organic and inorganic household waste. The session highlighted that environmental stewardship is not the responsibility of a few individuals, but a collective movement that begins within every family.
In addition to the workshops, the festival featured discussions on integrating technology into education, developing creative economic opportunities, and inspiring micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to continue expanding their businesses. Every programme was designed to ensure participants left with new experiences, practical knowledge, and fresh inspiration they could apply in their daily lives.
Muhammad Zain Machmoed, Regional Secretary of Pasangkayu Regency, expressed his appreciation for the Celebes Education Festival, describing it as a tangible demonstration of Astra Agro’s commitment to improving educational quality while supporting the development of local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
According to him, the festival provides a collaborative platform that connects the education sector with local entrepreneurs, helping to nurture creative, competitive, and high-quality human resources. He also noted that combining educational activities with opportunities for MSMEs to promote their products yields broader community benefits by enriching participants’ knowledge and supporting sustainable local economic growth.
The festival’s energy carried into its second day with a series of creativity competitions that showcased students’ ideas and innovation. One of the most popular activities involved crafting keychains from palm kernel shells, encouraging participants to see how locally available resources can be transformed into value-added products through creativity.
As the festival drew to a close, thousands of students gathered on the field to form the words “AAL Kebanggaan Kita” (AAL, Our Pride). Viewed from above, the formation appeared simple, yet it carried a powerful message of unity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to growing together.
Through the Celebes Education Festival 2026, Astra Agro hopes to continue creating opportunities in which children are encouraged to pursue their dreams, educators are empowered to strengthen their roles, women gain greater confidence, and communities realise that meaningful change begins with small actions taken together. By investing in education, collaboration, and community development, Astra Agro remains committed to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for generations to come.
