RIMBAWAN MUDA INDONESIA (RMI)

Organizational Vision
Citizen Base Strategy
Results

Organizational Vision

In Indonesia, Mia Siscawati, an Ashoka Fellow, is a pioneer in the field of environmental education, relying primarily on an intermediary corps of volunteers, teachers, and parents to carry her message of environmental protection further.

Indonesia’s harmful developmental practices—urbanization, industrialization, and heedless mineral and other natural resource extraction—have led to a rapid depletion of the country’s rich bio-diversity and the degradation of fragile ecosystems. One of the many factors contributing to environmental degradation is that policy-makers and the general public often lack full awareness of the problems implicit in the current economic growth pattern, or of the possible alternative paths of development that could afford sustainable livelihoods without undermining the natural resource base. The result is a consistent pattern of over-exploitation and mismanagement of resources.

Utilizing trained volunteers, Mia has embarked upon an innovative education model to inform the general public of the environment. Mia believes that through broad, sustained education efforts, an environmental movement can be forged in Indonesia that, in turn, can contribute to environmental protection and bio-diversity conservation. The proper use and management of Indonesia’s natural resources is first and foremost through education.

Citizen Base Strategy

Mia began her efforts with an innovative general public education program in the Bogor Botanical Gardens, a well-known, complete tropical museum. Mia learned that only two percent of the visitors came to the gardens for “educational purposes.” To increase this percentage, she introduced educational tours of the Gardens. These consisted of a guided group tour or a self-guided tour using a map and a brochure. The materials were written to suit different age groups, and 75 carefully selected volunteers were trained to be guides. The response was encouraging. Between 1994 and 1995, more than 3,000 students participated in Mia’s education program at the Gardens. Mia has built relationships with schools and parent-teacher groups to encourage them to visit the Bogor Park. She is now targeting 178 schools in various provinces to participate in her educational programs. She has also approached women’s groups, travel agents and banks in her efforts to encourage visitors to the park.

Mia distinguishes between two levels of volunteers, “facilitators” and “intermediaries.” Facilitators, after having completed an environmental education program, become formal environmental educators either in one of Mia’s programs or in their professional setting (a teacher, for example, would extend school environmental education). Some even go on to establish their own environmental education programs. Intermediaries, on the other hand, are people who have participated in Mia’s programs, not necessarily with the intention of becoming environmental educators themselves, but simply as interested citizens. These could be groups of young students or children, as well as the people who accompany these groups such as teachers and/or parents.

Mia's strategy demonstrates several important principles in building a membership base. The first is that the key to getting support from the general community is to help them see how their livelihoods and their lifestyles somehow benefit from your work in the community. Inviting them to give something back is a great way to keep their support. Secondly, because the general public may not have an immediate connection to your work, the key is to find something that they want and use this information to attract them to your organization.

Mia successfully made one transition in the circle model: she brought the general public into the member's circle. But how do can you sustain their participation and dedication, and further, how do you do this if they are unable or unwilling to donate time as volunteers? The process of garnering and sustaining local support is often made more difficult in resource poor countries. Commonly heard excuses include "only the elite have the luxury to volunteer" or "people do not have the money or time to participate." In resource poor countries, this is often a hurdle, but not one that is insurmountable. Citizen sector organizations that have initiated successful community involvement campaigns in resource poor countries have been successful through creative strategies. Often the returns are not as high as they would be through outside assistance, but they are more sustainable.

Results

Mia’s cadre of volunteers, who were once part of the “uninvolved” general public, take the environmental awareness message home and spread it in their communities. They are encouraged to become part of the “environmental movement” and are offered a broad menu of ways that they can stay involved. One of Mia’s colleague’s reports that community members are now “knocking down walls” to be engaged in her organization.

Read a profile about Mia Siscawati, Ashoka Fellow.