The Anambas Foundation, established in 2018, is a dedicated guardian of the remote Anambas Islands, known for hosting Indonesia’s second-largest Marine Protected Area (MPA). In close collaboration with local government entity LOKA Kawasan Perairan Nasional Pekanbaru (LKKPN Pekanbaru), regional governments, and island communities, the foundation is unwavering in its mission to preserve the Anambas ecosystems and uplift local residents.
With a focus on three core pillars: Forest Conservation, Marine Conservation, and Community Development, the Anambas Foundation implements several impactful programs:
Digital English Club: Empowering schoolchildren with essential English language skills through online and offline classes.
Women’s Empowerment: Equipping local women’s groups with the skills to craft marketable upcycled products from waste materials.
Integrated Waste Management (IWM): Providing comprehensive waste management tailored to small island communities, including waste education and management across multiple Anambas villages.
As an active non-profit organization, the Anambas Foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the Anambas Islands while enhancing the well-being of its inhabitants.
What do they do?
The Anambas Foundation, established in 2018, is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the fragile ecosystems within Indonesia’s remote Anambas Islands. Situated in the South China Sea, this archipelago faces significant environmental challenges, including the legacy of illegal fishing practices, inadequate waste management, and a lack of environmental education. The foundation operates in close collaboration with regional governments, local communities, and its team members, most of whom have deep roots in the Anambas Islands.
The Anambas Foundation focuses on three core pillars: “Above” for Forest Conservation, “Below” for Marine Conservation, and “Beyond” for Community Development. Within the Community Development pillar, they have initiated three vital programs:
- Digital English Club: This program provides basic English language instruction to schoolchildren through both online and offline classes.
- Women’s Empowerment: The foundation equips local women’s groups with skills to craft marketable upcycled products from waste materials.
- Integrated Waste Management (IWM): Anambas Foundation runs a comprehensive waste management program customized for small island communities. It includes waste education and management across multiple Anambas villages.
Since its establishment in 2018, the foundation has achieved remarkable milestones, including deploying over 2,000 artificial reefs, transplanting more than 10,000 coral fragments, collecting over 1.5 tons of marine debris, relocating 2,000 turtle eggs to safe locations, planting 800 mangrove seeds, and preventing 196,514 kg of waste from entering the oceans. They have also constructed four waste management facilities and served more than 2,500 villagers across four villages.
These accomplishments have been made possible through strategic partnerships with various stakeholders, including district and village governments, private sector collaborators, and local communities. With an investment of nearly 110 billion Indonesian Rupiah, the foundation has undertaken diverse initiatives encompassing marine conservation, waste management, and community development.
The Anambas Foundation works closely with the Anambas Islands government to promote sustainable tourism and has successfully secured international grants for its initiatives. While facing logistical challenges due to the islands’ remote location and the need to transform community perspectives on sustainable development, the foundation remains steadfast in its mission to protect this ecological paradise and empower small island communities.
EXO Foundation support
Winner of the EXO Sustainability Awards 2013 for Organizations Working for the Planet:
Circular Economy: Acknowledging organizations working towards reducing plastic pollution and food waste
- Winner (Not For Profit): Anambas Foundation (Indonesia)
- Prize awarded: $2,000 for the winner