The Ranu Welum Foundation is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded the distinguished Equator Prize 2025, a prestigious recognition granted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for outstanding community efforts that demonstrate and exemplify sustainable development. RWF is chosen as winner among the ten Equator Prize awardees of 2025, selected from more than 700 nominations spanning 103 countries.
This award underscores our unwavering dedication to Indigenous rights, cultural preservation, and environmental integrity. As we continue our mission to empower Indigenous youth and amplify their voices, the Equator Prize acknowledges our innovative approach in harnessing local knowledge to address pressing ecological challenges.
Signature Programs
The prize highlights our signature programs: 1). Youth Act Kalimantan which trains and mobilized Indigenous youth as local earth champions, to monitor and protect their natural environment using cutting-edge technology combined with traditional practices; 2). Haze Shelter, an innovation by Ranu Welum and Big Red Button for haze pollution risk reduction, helping children, women, elders, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups during fire season; 3). Kalimantan Indigenous Film Festival that provides platform for Indigenous storytellers to share their voices to the world.
Upon receiving this honor, Founder Emmanuela Shinta expressed, "We are deeply humbled and gratified to receive the Equator Prize 2025. This award reflects the collective efforts of our dedicated team, community partners, and the inspirational spirits of Dayak people. This recognition empowers us to continue our journey as we know now that we are heard, never alone.”
Our success would not have been possible without the invaluable support of our donors and partners who share our vision and believe in our works. We are immensely grateful for your contributions, which have been pivotal in our journey toward this significant achievement. Your continued commitment has fueled our initiatives and empowered us to make tangible differences in the lives of the communities we support.
Upcoming Plan
As we celebrate this milestone, we also look forward to the future. This award motivates us to expand our efforts and leverage existing indigenous-led projects that enhance community resilience and ecological stewardship; such as The Heartland Project (landscape restoration), Dayak Academy & Cultural Center (indigenous education), and ii-Seed Box, a mini grant making program to support indigenous youth initiative. We invite all our current and prospective partners to join us as we scale our impact and explore new frontiers in sustainability and cultural preservation.
Building design for Dayak Academy and Cultural Center
Peatland Ecology Center located in Tangkiling, Palangkaraya
To learn more about our ongoing work and how you can contribute, please send us email to action@ranuwelum.org
Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. We anticipate this triumph will lead to even greater accomplishments in the future!
Executive Director
RORO A. GARINI