Community Entrepreneurs Challenge Wave 3

Koperasi Wana Hutan Lestari Menoreh, Yogyakarta

Koperasi Wana Hutan Lestari was formed in 2007, to create a sustainable logging industry in Menoreh. Sustainable initiatives such as planting 10 seeds for every 1 tree that is cut down meant the ability to get smart wood certification, which has increased prices by 30 - 40%.

Wana Lestari Menoreh started as a means to boost the local economy. What they ended up doing was changing the community's whole concept of savings and in the process imparting a commitment to sustainability for the future.

Komunitas Kapuk, North Jakarta

Komunitas Kapuk in the village of Penjaringan , North Jakarta, refuse to fall victim of flooding in Jakarta. Trying to turn a tragedy into an opportunity, the community established a cooperative for managing new catfish farms along with a trash recycling program.

As the catfish farming became profitable, something else happened: people stopped throwing trash on the streets and in the water because they knew it would have consequences for the catfish. This program is helping families bring in an additional Rp 300,000 - 500,000 per month, and participants are also saving 10% of their income to help other members when problems arise.

Despite being in a huge city like Jakarta, this community has continued to implement new initiatives and is now increasingly self-sufficient. In the future, Komunitas Kapuk wants to establish a more permanent general store along with an education center to provide even more work and support. Through all of this they have become not just a model for catfish farming, but for sustainable communities in general.

Community Entrepreneurs Challenge Wave 2

Kelompok Wanita Nelayan - Fatimah Azzarah, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Ibu Nuraeni is sometimes called “the pearl of Paotere” for her tenacity in empowering women to fight poverty in the fishing village of Paotere in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The fishing industry has locked many families into poverty, whereby capital owners take profits while fishermen remain poor. Traditionally, villages like Paotere see a high incidence of domestic violence and divorce, while children’s education levels are low.

With these problems, Nuraeni led the women of Paotere to form Fatima Az Azrah Fisherwomen’s Group, which runs a tuna floss business. A portion of the profits from this business are used to fund supplementary meals for infants, medical checkups and healthcare for the elderly, among other community activities.

The group’s members have become economically independent, and its activities have improved the welfare of the community.

Community Entrepreneurs Challenge Wave 1

Komunitas Hong, Bandung, West Java

Despite its rich cultural heritage, over time many of the traditional Sundanese folk toys, and the stories about them, have been lost. Modern toys and games are often too expensive for the average Indonesian family.

By producing and marketing toys (mostly from bamboo and wood) that meet safety standards, the Hong Community intends to promote Sundanese folk games to improve local tourism.

It also plans to replicate this community enterprise model for cultural conservation in other ethnic groups and regions across Indonesia. The short-term impacts of this project is an improvement of the incomes of traditional craftsmen in Dago Pakar village, an improvement of their skills in standardized product development and technology.

The long-term aims of this project include the provision of a social enterprise model for product development by other craftsmen in other communities; the conservation of Sundanese culture as a valuable aspect of national heritage; as well as the provision of cost-saving and creative alternatives to expensive/modern toys and games for children.