RANU WELUM FOUNDATION

Ranu Welum is a Dayak youth initiative that combines indigenous knowledge and modern technology to empower indigenous youth to preserve the culture, protect the forest and embolden their communities.

Ranu Welum is designed to empower indigenous Dayak youth in various areas: social, cultural, economic, educational, political, civil, and environmental. Founded with a small group of ten young people who were eager to use audiovisual media to express their Dayak identities, today Ranu Welum is known globally for its involvement at the frontline of the annual peat fires and resulting toxic haze in Kalimantan that has been happening for twenty-two years during the dry season. During this time, its members have built haze shelters, providing clean air facilities for the most vulnerable; provided medical help; distributed masks and oxygen tanks to thousands of villagers; and mobilized youth firefighting teams to cover over 30,000 fire spots in Kalimantan. 

VALUES

We combine indigenous wisdoms and modern technologies as a tool to preserve the culture, protect the forests and fight for indigenous rights.

Ranu Welum is a great example of people who are independently changing the narrative of indigenous activism without relying on outside groups to dictate our work. We have proven that every small act matters and every story matters. We have demonstrated tremendous courage and incredible determination. We can see our young people, from seventeen-years-old, who battle the fires simply because they want to protect their families. We are students who confront leaders to demand climate justice because we need to save our homeland. We are young people who take care of babies and provide medical help and oxygen to children and the elderly who are suffocating from smoke inhalation. At Ranu Welum, we encourage the shy boy and girl standing on an international stage; we push them to speak with their limited English because we can see their passion to share their Dayak voices. This strengthening of our communities is what makes Ranu Welum unique and powerful.