Hani Nusantari: Building linkages between communities through Education and Tourism
Hani Nusantari, a co-CEO and Program Manager at Yayasan Juang Laut Lestari (JARI Foundation), has dedicated her life to empowering coastal communities and supporting marine conservation. To build her skills she has participated in two Australia Awards Short Courses on Building Foundations to Equip Indonesians with 21st Century Skills at Flinders University (2021) and Sustainable Tourism Management at Griffith University in (2023).
Expanding Impact Through Collaboration
After finishing the Short Course in 2021, Hani decided to align her Award Project to the JARI Foundation’s Sister School Program, a collaborative cross-cultural exchange and environmental education initiative between Sugian 3 Elementary School in East Lombok and St. Joseph’s Primary School in Crib Point, Victoria, Australia. Hani incorporated the teaching curriculum from her short course as a key component for teachers in Sugian 3 Elementary School.
The collaboration also led to St. Joseph’s Primary School incorporating the "Laut Sahabat Kita" initiative into their curriculum. The program, which focuses on environmental education and fostering students’ connection to marine ecosystems, helped the school win the prestigious Tidy Town Award in Victoria.
Revitalising Camping Tourism and Empowering Local Communities
Following her second Short Course in Sustainable Tourism Management, Hani focused on revitalising camping tourism in Indonesia. She incorporated storytelling sessions led by the Bajo community, an indigenous group in Sumbawa, known for their rich maritime traditions.
“Observing how Australia respects and collaborates with indigenous communities inspired me to strengthen similar practices in Indonesia,” she shared.
The project also trained local communities in managing camping tourism, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to the industry while ensuring environmental sustainability.
Sustainable Fisheries and Community Development with the Bajo Community
Hani adopted a holistic approach to engaging with the Bajo community. The project combined sustainable fisheries and tourism with broader community needs, including financial management and cultural preservation. Hani also identified untapped tourism potential within the Bajo community, linking cultural preservation with tourism and environmental conservation stemmed from observing Australia’s efforts to engage indigenous communities in sustainable practices.
“The Bajo’s traditional methods of octopus fishing and crafting bait are fascinating. For people from urban areas, this is something truly unique and worth experiencing,” she explained.
By incorporating these activities into sustainable tourism initiatives, the project provided additional income opportunities for the community while preserving their cultural heritage. The project now benefits 150 fishermen and their families in Poto Tano, West Sumbawa.
Networking and Support from Australian Collaborations
Hani’s work has benefited from Australian collaborations. Partnerships with Louise Feltus, New South Wales National Parks, and Toni Massey, Coral Watch Ambassador, refined her camping tourism projects.
One initiative coming from these networks is a collaboration with Women for Marine Conservation. This program, held in Poto Tano, West Sumbawa, focused on involving women in sustainable marine ecosystem management. The project, involved interns from the New Colombo Plan, and was initiated with support from the Volunteers Program Impact Fund in 2022. It has expanded to seven villages along the Alas Strait.
The program has shifted from being grant-funded to self-sustaining, with support from local volunteers and interns. In October 2024, JARI Foundation received the International SeaKeepers Society’s Asia Achievement Award for its contributions to marine conservation and community empowerment.
