Pasiningsih and Alfu Nikmah, lecturers at IAIN Kudus's Faculty of Tarbiyah, participated in an international community service program in Japan from 27 April to 3 May 2024. The NICE organization, in Japan initiated the program in collaboration with the Dejavato Foundation Indonesia, whose English Department. The Faculty of Tarbiyah of IAIN Kudus has been collaborating since 2022. 
This international community service, known as NICE International Workcamp Shirakami, was held in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Aomori Prefecture is located in the northeastern part of Japan.  During this workcamp, the two lecturers along with other volunteers from Taiwan, Vietnam, and Japan along with the hosts and leaders from NICE worked in 2 places (Ajigasawa and Hiranai) in Aomori prefecture. 
Aomori has beautiful nature. One can enjoy the fresh air in the forest there in summer, whereas there is a lot of snow in winter. Ajigasawa city is located in the western part of Aomori prefecture, which also includes the Shirakami Mountains. The Shirakami Mountains is the full name of the large mountain range that runs through southwest Aomori prefecture and northwest Akita prefecture. In December 1993, the Shirakami Mountains were designated as world heritage. Hiranai City, located along Mutsu Bay, is famous as a clam farming production area.

This project has been jointly organized with the Society for the Preservation of the Shirakami Mountains (SMPS) since 2006. The Shirakami Mountains are one of Japan's most valuable preserved natural forests consisting mainly of beech trees, listed as a World Natural Heritage in 1993. The two IAIN Kudus lecturers participated in programs related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), waste sorting, beech tree planting, and other cultural learning through cooking, food sharing, and storytelling.
‘Through this community service, we have the opportunity to establish friendships with other volunteers from other countries and integrate our study program with environmental issues. In addition, we also have the opportunity to share Indonesian food, culture, and Islam. They were interested in our hijab and the way we pray. This is a valuable experience that we want to share with our students at IAIN Kudus,’ said Alfu Nikmah and Pasiningsih.