HIGHLIGHTS OF 2020
One year is almost over. Another year is about to begin.
2020 felt like a roller-coaster ride for almost everyone due the COVID-19 pandemic. We needed to adjust our many ways of connecting, sharing, working, learning, and helping each other. If there’s one thing 2020 has shown us, it’s how we’re all finding ways to stick together and stay strong. Nonetheless, we would like to thank you for choosing to be with us throughout this time.
This year, the RANU WELUM advocated for an “Indigenous Arising” approach through our media publications and various relief efforts. Here are the highlights of 2020:
1. THE HEARTLAND PROJECT pt.3
On March 21, 2020, one week before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indonesia, to commemorate International Day of Forests, we solicited both individuals and youth organizations to take part in restoration efforts in the 3rd Heartland Project. Although most of the organizations had to cancel their big tree-planting events due to COVID-19 spread in Indonesia, this didn’t stop us from taking climate action. Following health protocols, more than 734 youth from 41 organizations in various places in Indonesia joined this movement to plant almost 2,000 trees.
The Heartland Project advocates that people should not only be educated on the importance of restoring land, but it also encourages a personal connection to nature and forests. Therefore, our project is designed to escalate youth involvement from a one-time action to a lifetime dedication. Only by doing that can we see a ripple effect in the local communities, which are at the “heart” of the land.
2. KALIMANTAN BERANI Campaign (COVID-19 Response)
It’s normal to be afraid, but we can also choose to be brave -- we have to, we need to, we must be brave. Throughout March to May 2020, Youth Act launched a campaign called Kalimantan Berani, or Brave Kalimantan, as a response to COVID-19. We created informative flyers in local languages, produced social media advocacy to raise awareness about health protocol, supplied masks to health workers, and provided meal packages to families affected by the pandemic.
An informative flyer about Covid-19 in Dusun language.
Hand washing point set up in the slum area.
In three months, we raised 5,900,000 IDR to set-up 12 hand-washing locations, printed 624 flyers that were translated in eleven languages, and provided 339 meal packages for people in need. We also sent 8,043 surgical masks, 555 fabric masks, and 5,213 N-95 masks to frontline health workers in eighteen towns and villages in four provinces in Kalimantan.
3. CLIMATEJUSTICE4KALIMANTAN: Stop The Food Estate Project in Central Kalimantan
29,565 people have signed the petition. Will you be next?
In October 2020, the Indonesian Government started to open land in the Pulang Pisau dan Kapuas Regency in Central Kalimantan for paddy farming on a Food Estate Project. Citing the food crisis resulting from the pandemic, the government plans to clear 900,000 hectares of peatlands to create what they deem an integrated agricultural center, a plan that resembles the one million hectare Mega Rice Project (MRP) during Soeharto’s era.
The New Food Estate will be history repeating itself, with no transparent project management plan, environmental impact assessment, or local and indigenous community involvement. Therefore, we, young people of Kalimantan, are joining hands in the Kalimantan Climate Strike movement to raise awareness about the issue through webinars, social media campaigns, online petitions, and essay writing competitions. Our petition ‘Stop the food estate Project In Kalimantan #climatejustice4Kalimantan has been signed by 29,564 people around the world as of December 22nd. The webinar ‘Borneo Under Threat, which included a Kalimantan landscape expert, an Indigenous leader, and a youth activist, brought attention to the ecological threats and dangers to the local people and reached more than 400 viewers. We also employed a social media campaign that reached 3,000 youth through Instagram and an essay competition to provide a platform for young people to share their opinions regarding the project.
4. FLOOD RELIEF MISSION
In September 2020, Kalimantan experienced its worst flooding in decades, devastating hundreds of villages and cutting off road access in many areas. During our Flood Relief Effort, we rallied Kalimantan’s youth to join together to help their brothers and sisters who were affected by the flood.
Thanks to our generous donors and all our volunteers, from September 12th to October 3rd, we raised 38.657.800 IDR to provide food, clothes, blankets, and medicine for the villagers. Though a bumpy road with many challenges, we have distributed more than 1,600 packages to fourteen villages in four regencies in Central Kalimantan.
5. INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVALS
Celebrating the subject “Indigenous Arising, Show Yourself,” the Indigenous Film Festival movement maintains the spirit of digital storytelling and continues to give a platform to indigenous voices. This year, we hosted international indigenous film festivals on two occasions in multiple settings.
First, the 3rd Kalimantan International Indigenous Film Festival occurred on August 21-22, 2020. The event was broadcasted live from Ranu Welum Studios in Palangkaraya. With five shows, two workshops, and an evening celebration, KIFF brought over 1,300 people together, watching from twelve countries on four continents.
Second was the Bali International Indigenous Film Festival, held on December 12-13, 2020 and broadcasted live from Usada, Ubud. There were a total of five shows, with one show dedicated to the Balinese and their cultural heritage. Thirty people joined for a screening at Usada, following health protocols, while 110 people joined via zoom conference.
6. THE EQUATOR PRIZE
Starting with a vision and passion six years ago, we are so grateful that this Dayak youth initiative RANU WELUM has been recognized internationally. Through our green programs, media advocacy, digital storytelling, and relief efforts, we made it to the final round of the Equator prize 2020.
Though we didn’t make the top ten, we are so grateful that only in four years we are able to be the example of a successful indigenous initiative that has made an impact through the combination of indigenous wisdoms and modern technology.
Thank you to all partners, supporters, staff, volunteers, leaders, elders and everyone who worked with us all these years. We dedicate this recognition to the Dayak Indigenous Community. Tabe!
7. COLLABORATION
Partnership is the key. We expanded our working relationships with other international organizations. Starting this year, we have two main partners, the Global Landscape Forum and UNESCO, that collaborate with us to restore Indonesia’s ecosystem and also to support indigenous initiatives in our communities.
1. RESTORATION STEWARD: Heartland Project to Restore Peatland Ecosystem in Kalimantan
OurYouth ActCoordinator, Sumarni Laman, was selected as one of the Restoration Stewardsin the Peatland Ecosystem for the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL) with the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF). The Heartland Project aims to restore areas burned by forest fires in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia and to teach young adults about our significant ecosystems.
2. Indigenous Communities COVID-19 Response: Ranu Welum x AIYP & UNESCO
With support from AIYP and UNESCO, the RANU WELUM FOUNDATION is currently working on the creation of a digital offline learning tool prototype called SUARA PINTAR. This device is meant to help children in the remote areas in Central Kalimantan without internet access to study effectively, while also preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
8. MEDIA RELEASE
Through media advocacy, this year Ranu Welum became widely known through our online stories and initiatives. We are thrilled when our stories inspire young people to do something positive in their own communities.
9. HQ RAWE (Studio & Gallery | Co-Working Space | Cafetaria | Haze Shelter| Youth Act Center)
Ranu Welum Headquarter now is open for public!
Not only serve as office and haze shelter, you are welcome to use the HQ as working space. You can also visit our studio on 2nd floor to learn more about our media works, Youth Act movement and its green project, and also technology that makes haze shelter while enjoying delicious food and beverage from our cafetaria!
VISIT OUR MENU SET AT @NASIBAKAR.RAWE and @KIMCHIN.KIM
Open Tuesday - Saturday
7am - 1pm
5pm - 9pm
