The Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia Association (SIAMA) is an organization on campus dedicated to promoting community for Harvard students from Southeast-Asia. With a relatively small number of Harvard students hailing from these three countries, SIAMA has worked to preserve Singaporean, Indonesian, and Malaysian culture on Harvard campus through organizing events to raise awareness and building a community.
In an interview with the Harvard Independent, Co-President Megan Yeo ’25 described her vision of SIAMA as a place to not only “try to provide a network and community of Singaporeans, Indonesians, and Malaysians,” but also as “a space for anyone who is interested in the cultures of our countries” to learn more about it. Yeo has been an active member of SIAMA for the past two years, during which she has helped organize cultural events that provide cuisine from the three countries.
Her Co-President Jarell Cheong ’25 noted Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore’s substantial distance from Harvard, as countries in time zones 12 hours away. Yet despite this sense of geographic detachment, both Yeo and Cheong described SIAMA as their “home away from home.”
Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Cheong noted that for many international students, despite enjoying many organizations on campus, “at the back of your head you always realize you are foreign,” further intensifying feelings of alienation from American culture. Yet at SIAMA events, Cheong describes the environment as one where international students can “let loose and not think about it.” Yeo echoed this sense of inclusion, describing the community as “a very wholesome and welcoming environment.”
Both co-presidents indicated the importance of spaces on campus that focus on communities based on geographical regions, especially those of underrepresented student identities. Yeo noted that, for many, college is their first time living such a great distance away from home. With a number of American customs to adapt to—including filing taxes, converting international driver’s licenses, learning American semantics, and overcoming language barriers—Yeo described how living in a new country for the first time can be very overwhelming.
Talking to upperclassmen who have been through the same process, which SIAMA events promote, can be helpful. Having affinity groups focused on bringing parts of international culture to campus both produces a sense of familiarity and home and increases awareness of these cultures to other students on campus.
“You feel you are in a very different place, and it is very important to know there are people around you feeling the same way,” said Cheong.
Yeo described how “eating food from home is very nice,” especially considering the difference in cuisine between the United States and Southeast-Asia. For example, a SIAMA “food event” may provide the spicy beef cuisine rendang, which originated from West Sumatra, Indonesia, and is now also common in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. Satay (Indonesian pronunciation sate) is also a traditional food SIAMA provides through its events. Originating from the Indonesian island of Java, it is now a popular food throughout Southeast-Asia. During the Cultural Rhythms Food Festival in Harvard Yard, SIAMA also provided popiah, a Chinese Teochew-style cuisine very popular in Singapore and surrounding countries.
As co-president, Yeo tries to ensure that everyone in the organization feels included and represented, regardless of their native country. With such a small population of Southeast-Asian students, Cheong noted how the club’s organizational structure could also be improved, with more students working toward SIAMA’s cause. He hopes that, in the future, Harvard will admit more students from the region to further strengthen the communities of Southeast-Asian students on campus.
Having a community to connect and relate with is important, especially for students who are far away from home. While feeling underrepresented can present its challenges, spaces such as SIAMA make the transition easier, whether through raising cultural awareness through events on campus, or coming together to celebrate and continue traditions. SIAMA, like other cultural organizations at Harvard, is truly a home away from home.
Nathanael Tjandra ’26 (nathanaeltjandra@college.harvard.edu) writes News for the Independent.