UnionAID, with partners the Auckland University of Technology, BaKTI and the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta, is delighted to welcome the eighth cohort of East Indonesia Young Leaders to the INSPIRASI whānau!
Yedida Asteria Letedara (Yedi)
Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
Komunitas Film Kupang
Yedida is a community leader and film producer who works at the intersection of arts, culture, and social advocacy in East Nusa Tenggara. As Chairperson of Komunitas Film Kupang, she creates spaces for young filmmakers to develop skills, collaborate, and use film as a medium to raise awareness on critical social issues such as human trafficking, gender-based violence, and community resilience. She also serves as Festival Director of the Flobamora Film Festival, strengthening local creative ecosystems and expanding platforms for regional voices.
Through her work in film production, community education, and cultural programming, Yedida aims to build a sustainable and inclusive film ecosystem while empowering young people to engage with social issues through storytelling.
Particular interests: Arts and culture for social change, community empowerment, youth engagement, gender equality, and cultural preservation.
Dhea Septi Alisa (Dhea)
Palu, Central Sulawesi
YLBH APIK Central Sulawesi
Dhea is a communication practitioner and peer leader working on HIV prevention and community outreach in Central Sulawesi. Through her role at YLBH APIK, she supports female sex workers and other vulnerable groups by providing education on HIV and STI prevention, facilitating access to health and legal services, and advocating for stigma reduction and gender-inclusive approaches. Her work involves direct community engagement, stakeholder coordination, and the use of data to strengthen outreach strategies.
Drawing upon her academic background in communication studies and hands-on experience in journalism and digital content development, Dhea skilfully leverages storytelling and media to enhance public awareness of complex health topics. She is dedicated to advancing health communication strategies that are empathetic, accessible, and effective at reducing stigma among marginalized populations.
Particular interests: Public health communication, gender equality, community outreach, stigma reduction, and media for social change.
Ruben Penggu (Ruben)
Sentani, Papua Highlands
YAPPENDA (Yayasan Pelayanan Papua Nenda)
Ruben is an Indigenous Papuan youth leader working with YAPPENDA on environmental conservation and community empowerment in Papua. As a field assistant and translator, he supports biodiversity research, conservation initiatives, and community-based activities that integrate scientific knowledge with local wisdom. His work includes guiding field research, facilitating communication between communities and researchers, and contributing to data collection and environmental monitoring.
Ruben has been actively involved in conservation efforts, including participating in a scientific expedition that contributed to the rediscovery of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna. Growing up in a rural farming community, he is deeply committed to advancing education and sustainable development in Papua. He aspires to strengthen community-based, culturally grounded approaches that empower Indigenous youth and improve access to education and opportunities in remote areas.
Particular interests: Community development, Indigenous leadership, environmental conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and education access in rural communities.
Surni Ayatul Fitri (Surni)
Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara
Gugah Nurani Indonesia (CDP Lombok)
Surni is a Field Project Officer at Gugah Nurani Indonesia, where she works on community-based education initiatives focused on preventing child labour in the Mandalika tourism area. Through the Mandalika Child Learning Center, she leads programme implementation, curriculum design, and daily operations to provide safe learning spaces for children and reduce their involvement in informal work. Her role also involves coordinating with community members, government stakeholders, and partners to ensure programmes are relevant, sustainable, and impactful.
With a background in English Education and international academic experience through the IISMA programme, Surni brings strong skills in project management, stakeholder engagement, and youth empowerment. She is deeply committed to advancing children’s rights and addressing structural inequalities affecting access to education, particularly in tourism-driven regions where children are vulnerable to exploitation.
Particular interests: Child protection, education access, community development, youth empowerment, and sustainable tourism.
Andi Putri Ramadhani Musa (Putri)
Makassar, South Sulawesi
Tim Layanan Kehutanan Masyarakat (TLKM)
Putri is a Program Officer at Tim Layanan Kehutanan Masyarakat (TLKM), where she works on community-based forest management through the SETAPAK 4 programme in partnership with The Asia Foundation. She facilitates capacity building for social forestry groups, supports communities in obtaining forest management permits, and strengthens local institutions through participatory approaches. Her work focuses on improving livelihoods for forest-dependent communities while promoting inclusive and sustainable natural resource management.
Putri holds a degree in Forestry from Hasanuddin University and possesses extensive field experience in social forestry, community engagement, and gender-responsive facilitation. She serves as a Gender Focal Point, promoting women’s participation in forest governance and advocating for the meaningful inclusion of women and vulnerable groups in decision-making processes. Her efforts demonstrate a dedication to advancing rights-based and inclusive forest management practices in Indonesia.
Particular interests: Social forestry, gender equality, community empowerment, natural resource governance, and inclusive development.
Rivaldi A. Gani (Aldi)
Ternate, North Maluku
Bengkel Pulau Community
Rivaldi is the Founder of Bengkel Pulau Community, a local initiative focused on advancing sustainable tourism and marine conservation in North Maluku. Through this platform, he leads programmes such as beach clean-ups, environmental education, and community-based ecotourism, working closely with local communities, government stakeholders, and tourism actors. His work aims to protect marine ecosystems while creating economic opportunities for coastal communities through sustainable tourism practices.
Aldi brings strong expertise in community-based tourism development and environmental advocacy. He is committed to strengthening local capacity, promoting environmentally responsible tourism, and addressing waste management challenges in island communities.
Particular interests: Sustainable tourism, marine conservation, community empowerment, environmental education, and coastal development.
Sesario Benyamin Wenggi (Sesario)
Manokwari, West Papua
Yayasan Bingkai Cerita Rakyat (BICARA)
Sesario is a Project Coordinator at Yayasan Bingkai Cerita Rakyat (BICARA), with experience in community empowerment, public awareness, youth engagement, citizen journalism, and sustainable agriculture. Since joining BICARA in 2023, he has managed youth communities in Manokwari and supported citizen journalism and digital literacy initiatives through the JUWARA programme. In 2025, he served as Programme Manager for the BICARA–TAF Sustainable Agriculture Programme in Klain and Malamay, strengthening his engagement with issues affecting Indigenous Papuan farmers and rural livelihoods.
Through his current development enquiry, Sesario is exploring how Indigenous Papuan farmers manage income from agriculture, make decisions about spending, saving, and reinvesting, and maintain farm financial and production records. He is particularly interested in how cultural values, family and social obligations, market conditions, and institutional support shape these practices. Rather than viewing farm financial management solely as an individual issue, he seeks to understand the interconnected roles of farmer groups, agricultural extension officers, village governments, cooperatives, local leaders, and market actors.
Particular interests: Sustainable agriculture, farmer livelihoods, farm financial management and record-keeping, Indigenous Papuan community development, community engagement, digital literacy, and citizen journalism.
Lusiana Syam (Uci)
Makassar, South Sulawesi
Blue Forests Foundation
Lusiana is an Ecological Rehabilitation Field Staff at Blue Forests Foundation, where she works on mangrove ecosystem restoration and community empowerment in coastal areas, particularly in the Tanakeke Islands. Her role includes leading biodiversity monitoring, supporting ecological mangrove rehabilitation programmes, and working closely with local communities, including women’s groups and community surveillance teams, to strengthen sustainable coastal management practices.
Holding a degree in Biology from Hasanuddin University, Lusiana combines strong technical expertise in ecological research with practical experience in community-based conservation. She has participated in baseline biodiversity surveys, conducted environmental data analysis, and employed participatory approaches that incorporate local knowledge into conservation strategies. Her work demonstrates a commitment to combating environmental degradation while ensuring active involvement from coastal communities in the protection and management of their natural resources.
Particular interests: Coastal ecosystem conservation, mangrove restoration, community-based environmental management, and sustainable livelihoods.
Idonia Helaha (Ido)
Tiakur, Maluku
Yayasan WWF Indonesia (Marine and Fisheries Programme)
Idonia works as a Marine Tourism and Community Officer at WWF Indonesia, supporting community-based marine conservation and sustainable tourism initiatives in small-island contexts in Maluku. Her role involves coordinating field activities, facilitating community engagement, and working with local governments and stakeholders to strengthen marine conservation practices and responsible tourism management.
With a background in Marine Science from Pattimura University, Idonia combines technical knowledge with strong experience in community outreach and applied research. She has been involved in biodiversity monitoring, conservation planning, and capacity-building initiatives, helping communities better understand and manage their natural resources. Her work focuses on ensuring that conservation efforts are inclusive, locally grounded, and contribute to sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities.
Particular interests: Marine conservation, sustainable tourism, community-based resource management, and coastal livelihoods.
Manzilina Sorfina (Orfi)
Selong, West Nusa Tenggara
Gema Alam NTB
Manzilina works as part of the Advocacy and Public Campaigns team at Gema Alam NTB, a grassroots organisation focusing on climate justice, community-led energy transition, and inclusive development. Her work centres on advocacy, public communication, and partnership engagement, ensuring that issues such as gender equality, environmental protection, and community voices are represented in public discourse and decision-making processes.
Manzilina studied International Relations at Mataram University, which has strengthened her skills in communication, content creation, and community engagement. She collaborates closely with grassroots groups, particularly women, to foster inclusive dialogue, build collective awareness, and promote locally driven solutions to climate and development challenges. Her background demonstrates a strong commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and advancing participatory approaches to social and environmental progress.
Particular interests: Climate justice, gender equality, community-led development, and participatory advocacy.