On October 1-2, 2024, Pongo Ranger Community, represented by its leader, Hanna Adelia Runtu (also an alumna of Green Leadership Indonesia Batch 1), had the opportunity to showcase the community’s work during the Youth Conservation Talks (YCTalks). This event was part of the Youth Conservation Festival 2024 (YC Fest 2024), held at the Taman Wisata Alam Mangrove Angke Kapuk, North Jakarta.
The Youth Conservation Festival 2024 (YC Fest 2024) was organized to appreciate, encourage, and empower young people in their conservation efforts. This festival aims to promote sustainability and environmental conservation through various inspiring youth initiatives. YCTalks, as a key part of YC Fest, provided young conservationists a platform to introduce their initiatives, open collaboration opportunities with potential partners, and inspire other young people to start similar conservation projects.
The event was made possible by a partnership between the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), in collaboration with the Indonesian Green Institute (IHI). YCTalks invited various conservation practitioners, including alumni from different batches of Green Leadership Indonesia. During the main forum, eight conservation movement initiators presented their projects, inspiring 60 attendees present in person and many others who tuned in via YouTube streaming.
Hanna had the chance to introduce Pongo Ranger’s initiatives to an audience that included Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and the Head of BRGM, Hartono. In the festival’s highlight, each participant set up a booth showcasing their environmental initiatives, including Pongo Ranger. Hanna used this opportunity to introduce some of Pongo Ranger’s programs, including Pongo-dopsi, to booth visitors.
During the event, two outstanding initiators (one male and one female) with impactful and relevant conservation initiatives were chosen to receive awards from the Minister of Environment and Forestry. Representing Pongo Ranger’s Pongo-dopsi, Hanna earned the award for Inspiring Young Conservation Movement (Penghargaan Inspirator Gerakan Muda dalam Konservasi Lingkungan) while Muhammad Luthfi, with his Puna Games initiative, was also honored as a top initiator.
Pongo Ranger Community greatly appreciates this event and hopes it will inspire more youth to launch impactful conservation initiatives in their regions.