Action Project

Letter from Programme Manager

Selamat datang, kia ora, welcome!

It is my great pleasure to introduce this Action Project summary report which showcases the Action Projects implemented through the Indonesia Young Leaders Programme or INSPIRASI programme since 2018.

In our inaugural year, eight promising young leaders from Eastern Indonesia, working in civil society organisations, were selected to attend this programme. Seven years later, the programme now has 58 alumni, ten selected each subsequent year, and the INSPIRASI programme and alumni network has gone from strength to strength.

The Action Project is a key area of the Young Leaders Programme, and a point of difference from other scholarship awards. It gives our young leaders the opportunity to address a problem or issue in their community, growing an idea into a research question. After further research into this issue through consultation with key stakeholders in their community they draw on their knowledge and skills to implement a small and focussed action project. Not only does this allow the young leaders to put into practice what they have learnt on the programme but an opportunity to give back to their communities and to the civil society organisation which supported their application and their attendance on the programme.

As the INSPIRASI programme became more established, it became clear the Action Projects were more than a learning opportunity but were positively benefitting the communities where they were implemented, addressing important topics such as gender equality, disability rights, environmental protection, education. Although some projects ended after the project period as anticipated, others have continued over the years, some remaining small scale, others have been scaled up to working at government level and expanding to other communities and regions. All projects have worked towards the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

What has been achieved is truly phenomenal and shows that passion, dedication, and hard work can make a significant difference, even with a small amount of funding. As of April 2025, the INSPIRASI Action Projects have reached over 31616 people, held 42 workshops/trainings, conducted 97 social media and community-based campaigns, 95 collaborations and seven book publications.

Not only must I thank the young leaders for their vision and commitment to their projects, organisations and communities but also Veronika Kanem our Action Project supervisor, who works closely with our young leaders and alum and programme officer Victor Matanggaran for compiling this excellent report, highlighting the achievements of the INSPIRASI alumni so beautifully.

Ngā mihi nui,

Christina