Malang, October 8-10, 2026 — Character education cannot be effectively taught through theory, advice, or the presentation of material in the classroom alone. Character develops when students have the opportunity to experience, act, face real-life situations, make decisions, collaborate, and reflect on those experiences. The Character Jamboree is designed to be an experience that is carried forward through consistent practice at school and, most importantly, at home. The Character Jamboree is designed as a laboratory for character development: each activity has a character-building objective, observable behavioral indicators, and clear follow-up steps.
Sabilillah Islamic Elementary School Malang 2 (SDIS 2) held a three-day Character Jamboree from October 8–10, 2026. Day 1 focused on teaching proper conduct and responsibility at school. Day 2 reinforced proper conduct and awareness of religious practice. Day 3 extended the character-building exercises to the home environment with parents. As an effort to instill positive character values in new students, the activities were designed to be contextual, educational, interactive, and enjoyable. Various activities were designed to help first-grade students develop polite behavior, discipline, responsibility, and care for others, as well as to increase their awareness of religious practice.
On the first day, Thursday (October 8), the event began with an opening ceremony attended by all first-grade students. Afterward, participants took part in the “Great Kids Mission” through a treasure hunt that encouraged students to explore various challenge stations around the school grounds. Through this activity, students practiced greeting teachers, addressing them politely, and showing respect when meeting them. In addition, there were challenges designed to help students practice following instructions, listening to others, answering questions, and completing tasks in groups. Each challenge was designed to develop mutual respect, teamwork, and leadership skills.
The spirit of fostering compassion is also demonstrated through activities that encourage students to do good deeds without waiting for instructions. Students are guided to recognize various simple situations in daily life, such as helping a friend in need, picking up a dropped item, and keeping the environment clean. Through discussions and hands-on practice, students learn to understand that kindness can start with small actions. In the next session, students participated in the “I Am Clean and Tidy” mission. In this activity, each group worked together to clean and organize their lockers, desks, and shoe racks. Students were also encouraged to observe the cleanliness of the school environment and dispose of trash properly. This activity served as a means to instill a sense of responsibility, discipline, and care for the environment.
On the second day, Friday (October 9), the Character Jamboree focused on strengthening religious character. Through the “Becoming a Guest of Allah” activity, students learned and practiced proper etiquette when heading to, entering, being inside, and leaving the mosque. Students were also trained to maintain order, organize prayer equipment, and demonstrate behavior that reflects respect for places of worship.
The practice of worship continues through the “Praying at Every Step” activity. Using a game-based concept that depicts daily activities, students practice reciting prayers corresponding to those activities—from waking up, performing wudu, entering the mosque, to eating. This approach is intended to help students develop the habit of praying and apply Islamic etiquette in their daily lives. In addition, the “Zikir with Calmness, Joy in the Heart” activity encourages students to practice reciting zikir in an orderly, clear, and mindful manner. Through chain zikir games, challenge cards, and exercises in maintaining calmness, students learn to train their focus, patience, and self-control. In this activity, students are also taught the do’s and don’ts of reciting zikir. The second day’s activities also included a group Duha prayer and guidance on continuing the mission of establishing worship habits at home.
On the third day, Saturday (October 10), students were scheduled to continue their character-building activities through “Missions at Home.” This activity was carried out as a way to practice character-building in real life. Parents’ roles in character-building activities at home include: giving children the opportunity to complete tasks, not directly taking over their work, observing and offering appreciation, briefly noting observed behaviors, and providing encouragement without embarrassing or comparing the child. In this way, it is hoped that the character values learned during school activities can be consistently applied in daily life.
The Character Jamboree is a form of learning that integrates knowledge, experience, and real-life practice. Through activities designed in stages, students are not only encouraged to understand the values of goodness but also to put them into practice in their interactions with teachers, peers, and the environment, as well as in their religious observances. Through the Character Jamboree, SD Islam Sabilillah Malang 2 strives to nurture a generation that is polite in behavior, independent in action, caring toward others and the environment, and mindful of their religious duties. The hope is that the good character traits cultivated during these activities will continue to grow into positive habits, both at school and at home.
