Resilience through agroforestry in Kalimantan

Dear Friends,

One of the main goals of our three-year project in Bukit Batu, Central Kalimantan, is to train at least 200 farmers in agroforestry. Through this approach, farmers learn how to integrate trees, crops, and sustainable land management practices.

Our hope is that each farmer will test these regenerative farming methods on a small scale. Over time, we believe they will experience the benefits not only for their livelihoods, but also for the health of their families, their communities, and the surrounding environment.

To reach as many farmers as possible, we are working closely with women community leaders who are trusted voices in their villages.

At the start of the project, these leaders gathered at our KM30 Training Center to learn about agroforestry—what it is, why it matters, and how it can benefit their communities. The training equipped them with the knowledge and confidence to return to their villages and share these ideas with their neighbors.

Once back home, the community leaders introduced agroforestry to residents, explained its potential benefits, and identified farmers who were interested in learning more. Their role is simple but incredibly important: they open the door for YUM to connect with their communities.

After this initial outreach, our team follows up with direct village visits—meeting residents, answering questions, and planning the next steps together. By working in partnership with trusted local leaders, we ensure that our programs are introduced in a way that feels respectful, familiar, and rooted in trust.

We could not do this work without the partnership of these community leaders—and we could not do it without your support.

While a generous donor is funding the majority of this project, we are responsible for contributing 20% of the total project costs. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps us continue this work and expand opportunities for farmers and their communities.

Thank you for standing with us and supporting this important initiative.

With my sincere appreciation,

Vanessa Reksodipoetro
Executive Director

 Dear friends,

I’m really happy to share some wonderful news with you: we’ve just launched a brand-new three-year initiative in the Bukit Batu sub-district of Central Kalimantan, focusing on sustainable forest management and helping improve local livelihoods through agroforestry.

This initiative brings together two big goals that support each other:

1. Caring for 200 Hectares of Community Forest

   We’re working closely with a Dayak cooperative to help the community map, protect, and sustainably manage their 200-hectare peat swamp forest. This includes developing practical guidelines for forest protection, identifying non-timber forest products (like medicinal plants or fruits) with market potential, and strengthening the community’s conservation skills.

2. Supporting Farmers Through Sustainable Agroforestry

   In six villages across Bukit Batu, 200 farmers will receive hands-on training in YUM’s sustainable agroforestry methods. The aim is to help farmers diversify what they grow, rely less on chemicals, improve soil quality, and ultimately increase their income by reaching better and fairer markets.

3. Creating Local Income Through Small-Scale Processing

   We’re also setting up a small processing unit for products like pineapples, rambutans, lemongrass, and medicinal forest plants. This will give farmers and Dayak community members the chance to sell their goods at fairer prices and build more stable local income sources.

We’ve already started training new farmer groups, and we’re working on improving access to the community forest. While we’re grateful to have a generous donor supporting most of these activities, we still need to contribute 20% of the total funding — and this is where your support can make a huge difference, especially because today is Giving Tuesday!

Thanks to GlobalGiving’s $500,000 matching pool, every gift you make today will be boosted. That means your support will help unlock even more funds and create an even bigger impact. Matching lasts only for 36 hours — from Dec. 2 at 12 a.m. to Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. EST — so please don’t wait and help your gift go even further today.

With gratitude,

Vanessa