Highlights

Mangrove Networking Seminar

December 16

To close out 2025, we held our very first Mangrove Networking Seminar, bringing together all of our partners in one place. With over one hundred participants representing 25 institutions across Indonesia, we were deeply grateful to reunite with partners who have become friends and to thank everyone properly for their continued support.

The Mangrove exists only because of the generosity and trust of our partners. Thank you, thank you, thank you 🤍. We look forward to an even greater 2026 🌱.

Final Sip and Share of 2025!

December, 2025

Of everything we did in 2025, Sip and Share has meant the most to us. Sip and Share brings together students from universities across Yogyakarta to practice speaking and build meaningful connections.

We built The Mangrove so students we meet through formal workshops would continue to have a place to grow their networks. Seeing students smiling, singing together, and meeting new people every Sunday is exactly why we built The Mangrove 🤝🎶🌱.

Expressing Yourself With Confidence

December 18-19

Esa Unggul packed the room with over one hundred students for two full days during our public speaking workshop series. The goal of the workshops was to help students explore a simple but challenging question: “Who are you?”

Esa Unggul students were eager to challenge themselves, creating an energetic and inspiring experience for everyone involved. We’ve shared a long partnership with Esa Unggul and look forward to building even more programs together in the years ahead 🤝🌱

The English Hangout

December 6

We built The Mangrove to nurture and maintain connections, so we were thrilled when one of our friends brought fifteen students all the way from Temanggung, a several-hour journey.

As always, English Hangout, our event dedicated to high school students, was full of speaking, energy, and even dancing outdoors 🎤. We hope more schools continue to visit and grow with us 🤝🌱.

Every Future Teacher Should Have a Brand

November 25

Our workshop with over one hundred English Education students at UMY focused on the power of developing a unique personal brand as an educator and communicating that brand with clarity and confidence 🎤.

We love working with future teachers, not only to support their journeys, but because we believe it is one of the most meaningful ways to create positive, long-term impact 🤝🌱.

Heroes in Surakarta Shine Bright

November 22

From the moment we began, the packed room, filled with hundreds of teachers, lecturers, and future teachers, was full of energy.

We love leading workshops with diverse audiences because participants leave with new perspectives💡. As always, groups were intentionally mixed across lecturers, teachers, and future teachers, creating a space where training and networking happened together, exactly as we intended. 🌱

Communication 101 at UII

November 20-November 25

Our partnership with UII has continued across multiple semesters, with public speaking workshops for students from a range of departments. This semester, we worked with students from the Law and Organizational Leadership departments.

We value these cross-department collaborations and always learn from the students we meet. 🌱

Freedom of Expression

November 21-December 2

We collaborated with Universitas Sanata Dharma in many exciting ways throughout the month, from communication classes and critical thinking workshops to teacher training sessions.

Sanata Dharma students are confident, expressive, and inspiring. We learned so much from their unique learning environment and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future 🤝🌱.

NYU meets UNY!

November 20, 2025

We launched our partnership with UNY through a dynamic showcase guest-lecturing session. With a strong leadership team and passionate future heroes, we are truly excited for the opportunity to build more programs together in the future. 🤝🎓

At The Mangrove, our partnerships grow in two meaningful paths:

Formal training programs designed to strengthen skills and confidence.
Community-based engagement at The Mangrove, where students can continue learning, connecting, and growing with us beyond any single event.

Kudus Heroes!

November 18, 2025

UIN Kudus welcomed us back after five years! More than one hundred preservice teachers brought incredible energy all morning, proving that the future of Kudus is bright—and full of heroes! 🔥

Our workshop focused on three types of classroom interaction, with a special emphasis on the power of student-student communication.

Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Sunan Giri, Bojonegoro

A Unique Program at UNUGIRI, Bojonegoro

November 11-12, 2025

UNUGIRI in Bojonegoro has a truly unique program in which English Education students teach English to all first-semester students across the university. We spent two days at UNUGIRI supporting those students as they prepared for their teaching assignments.

We were inspired by their enthusiasm, adaptability, and willingness to try new approaches. What an incredibly innovative program! ✨📚

2 Magical Days at ITERA, Lampung

November 7-8, 2025

We spent two unforgettable days with the Language Center team at ITERA, Lampung, facilitating a two-day program for both students and lecturers. On the first day, we focused on public speaking with their students, and on the second day, we delivered teacher training for nearly 100 lecturers.

As a relatively new university, ITERA radiates energy, passion, and a strong desire to grow. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to work with them and be part of their journey!

English for Lecturers at UKDW

November 3-December 10, 2025

As universities across Indonesia push to internationalize, the demand for lecturers who can teach their fields in English continues to grow. At UKDW, we launched a ten-session EMI (English-Medium Instruction) program to support this transition and help lecturers feel more confident and comfortable using English in the classroom.

The lecturers at UKDW are highly motivated and dedicated, and we are excited for this two-month journey of growth and collaboration together. 🚀🤝📖

Teachers' Table

November, 2025

We launched our weekly teacher training workshop series, Teachers’ Table, held every Sunday morning from 10AM–12PM.

Teachers and pre-service teachers have traveled from near and far, including friends from Jombang, Semarang, and Kediri, to learn, share, and grow together.

We are excited to use these gatherings as opportunities to reconnect with the amazing educators we’ve met throughout our journeys and to continue building a supportive, inspiring community. 🌿

Halloween at the Mangrove

November 1-2, 2025 🎃👻

We celebrated Halloween at The Mangrove, one day with high school students and the next with university students. We loved the energy and hope to make this an annual tradition!

🧑‍🏫 High school students: Join us every Saturday for English Hangout!

🎓 University students: Come every Sunday for Sip and Share!

See you at The Mangrove! 🌿✨

Sip and Share

October 9, 2025

We just hosted our very first “Sip and Share” event, a gathering space for university students who want to practice English.

For this first session, students from UNY, UMY, and UST joined us to share their unique experiences and perspectives. The energy was inspiring, a reminder of how language connects people across campuses and ideas.

Sip and Share happens every Sunday from 3–5 PM at The Mangrove.

Our next session will be on October 26. Come speak, write, and connect with peers who share the same passion for learning and growth!

Hosting Our First Workshop for Teachers

October 7, 2025

One of The Mangrove’s core missions is to partner with institutions to empower educators. Through our collaboration with the English Language Education Study Program at Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta, we were able to welcome 35 teachers from MGMP Bantul for a free teacher training workshop, complete with drinks and snacks from the Mangrove Café.

A heartfelt thank you to Daniel and Elysa, our wonderful trainers, and to Ibu Ismi, whose dedication helped bring so many passionate teachers together for this event. Together, we continue to grow a community where teachers are celebrated. 🌱

The English Hangout

October 4, 2025

The English Hangout is for high school students who want to practice speaking English in a relaxed, judgment-free space, with friends who love English too! 🌿

We meet every Saturday from 10 AM to 12 PM.

Through our partnerships with teachers and schools across Yogyakarta, we welcome a diverse community of students who come together to learn, share, and grow in confidence.

The Mangrove is Officially Open! 🎉

October 4, 2025

The Mangrove is more than just a cafe. It’s a training center, cafe, and community hub. We opened with a bang as 40 high school students joined our very first English Hangout, an event designed to practice speaking English in a relaxed, judgment-free space with friends who share the same passion for the language.

We are truly grateful to everyone who helped turn this dream into a reality. 🌿✨

A Noisy Classroom Means Everyone’s Engaged!

September 30, 2025

Bantul is our community, and we were honored to meet all the junior high school teachers in Bantul.

Our workshop focused on classroom management and emphasized that a quiet classroom is not always a sign of strong classroom management. In fact, some of the best teaching practices often lead to lively, noisy classrooms—where students are actively engaged and learning together.

Bantul heroes, keep rocking! 🎉

Nationwide Collaboration

July 1-2, 2025

Education works best when it’s collaborative. That’s why we’re proud of our ongoing partnership with FILBA, a network of nearly 150 universities across Indonesia.

It was an honor to lead workshops at the FILBA National Workshop in Yogyakarta, an inspiring gathering of educators committed to sharing ideas, building community, and putting students first.

Let’s keep learning, laughing, and growing together.

The Heroes of Yogyakarta

June 26, 2025

Politicians change. Curriculums change. School administrators come and go.

But one thing stays constant:

Public school teachers—welcoming their students year after year with unwavering passion, energy, and commitment.

At Mangrove, our primary mission is to support these teachers.

They are the heart of education—and the core of our future. 🌱✨

Home Sweet Home

June 25, 2025

We began our journey at UIN Malang seven years ago. While our former students have since graduated, the new students brought the same energy and spirit that made us fall in love with Indonesia back then. 🇮🇩✨

Long-term partnerships mean everything to us. Witnessing growth after seven years not only deepens our connection—it renews our confidence and lifts us in times we need it most. 🙏🌱

Leading by Example

June 23, 2025

We tell students to be positive, fearless, and creative—but how can they be if their teachers aren’t?

Our workshops aim to empower educators to lead by example:

Laugh first. Sing first. Dance first.

Model everything so students can follow with confidence.

✨ Come join the movement! 🎤

Communication 101

June 21-22, 2025

🗣️ Knowledge means nothing if you can’t communicate it clearly.

Our Communications 101 workshop at UNUGIRI explored how communication is the most essential tool for effective teaching.

✨ Our first visit to Bojonegoro was truly unforgettable—thank you, UNUGIRI!

We love collaborating with universities in new places and building connections through education. 🙌🎓🌱

The Four Cs Checklist

June 19-20, 2025

We spent two incredible days at UBAYA!

First, we worked with students to strengthen their public speaking skills.

Then, we led a teacher training workshop focused on communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. As technology continues to reshape education, these skills are more essential than ever.

The energy, curiosity, and unforgettable smiles from everyone we met made this visit truly special. Thank you, UBAYA! 🙌

Facilitating Business Meetings at UGM

June 16-17, 2025

Our two-day workshop series at UGM on facilitating business meetings in cross-cultural contexts. From opening a meeting to effective follow-up, we explored how to lead with clarity, purpose, and inclusion.

While the topic was serious, in true Mangrove fashion, we still managed to laugh, connect, and even dance our way through the sessions.

🙏 So grateful and honored to work with UGM and its incredible educators. Thank you for welcoming us so warmly!

Symbols of Consistency

June 12, 2025

All smiles at our workshop with MGMP teachers in Sleman!

As governments shift, public school teachers stand steady, offering consistency and care through every storm.

It’s an honor to work alongside these dedicated educators. True heroes in every sense.

English for Specific Purposes: Who are you?

June 11-13, 2025

We had the pleasure of collaborating with CILACS UII to visit their Law and Program Management classes.

We love engaging with ESP (English for Specific Purposes) classes like these—not only because we get to share, but because we also learn so much from the students themselves.

🌱 Future lawyers and program managers explored the simple yet powerful question: Who are you?

Deeper Learning and the 4 Cs with MGMP

June 10, 2025

We love working with public school teachers!

This week, we facilitated a workshop with MGMP Kulon Progo on Deeper Learning and the 4 Cs—Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity.

Public school teachers are the pillars of education, and we’re honored to support their work. We look forward to continuing to build partnerships and learning communities with MGMP groups across Java.

Teaching in English: Strategies for Lecturers

June 3, 2025

🌟 Excited to launch our new program at Esa Unggul University:

Teaching in English – Strategies for University Lecturers 🎓✨

We kicked off our first session by exploring one of the most important moments of the semester: how to open the first class. What we say—and how we say it—sets the tone and builds trust, so it should be crafted with care.

This 15-hour course is designed to support non-English lecturers in strengthening their English for instructional purposes while also exploring learner-centered teaching strategies relevant across disciplines.

How Culture Shapes the Way We Speak and Listen

April 26, 2025

Have you ever been confused by the way someone said something, even though they were speaking the same language? At Esa Unggul University, we facilitated a workshop on high-context and low-context cultures, exploring how communication is shaped not just by language, but by culture. High school and university students practiced and reflected on different scenarios, comparing communication styles in the U.S., Japan, and Indonesia.

Teaching is Like an Onion

April 22, 2025

Why is teaching like an onion? In our workshop, hosted in partnership with LTC and FILBA at UMY, we explored this open-ended question. Teachers and pre-service teachers reflected on how teaching, like an onion, is layered and complex. Through a series of scaffolded activities, we demonstrated how learning becomes more meaningful with intentional layering. To close the session, participants worked in pairs to create two-voice poems, encouraging students to consider multiple perspectives and recognize the commonalities that exist even between seemingly opposite ideas.

Voice & Vision: Communicate with Purpose

April 15-17, 2025

We brought our communication workshop, Voice & Vision: Communicate with Purpose, to MAN Temanggung, SMPN 1 Karangmojo, and MTs Afkaaruna Islamic School. These students already learn English from dedicated teachers, but with the curriculum constantly moving forward, it’s easy to skip over the basics. Sometimes, going back to the fundamentals is key to building real communication confidence. In our workshop, we focused on tone, body language, and pacing—helping students introduce themselves clearly and confidently.

Hello Yogyakarta! A New Chapter Begins

April 1, 2025

After years of traveling, we have established a base. The Mangrove Lab, alongside the Mangrove Cafe, will serve as a community space for professional development, both in formal and casual forms. We are excited for this new opportunity to lay deeper roots and create a more lasting impact.

The Mangrove is dedicated to every student I’ve had—past, present, and future.

In a world that can often feel dark, you’ve given me purpose.

May this space be a light for you, as you have been for me.