One of Indonesia’s top educational institutions, Global Jaya School (GJS), emphasizes respect for others by valuing Indonesian culture while embracing international cultural awareness and understanding. The school’s core values of prioritizing community well-being and inclusion trickle down to their students.

A grade 11 student in particular is leading the charge to prove to the world that the future is safe in the hands of her generation. 16-year-old Kiranamulya “Kirana” Budi Arthanti pioneered rattan planting in the Meratus Mountains, Hinas Kiri Village, Hulu Sungai Tengah (HST) Regency, South Kalimantan.

Dubbed Kiranamulya's Rattan for Life Project 2024, the program began from Kirana’s personal school assignment project in 10th grade, where she photographed a rattan furniture factory owned by village volunteer and entrepreneur Jumali “Mas Jiwo Pogog” Wahyono Perwito.

After Kirana held an exhibition featuring the photographs and some of the rattan furniture, unexpected interest from visitors led to her selling both the furniture and pictures. Proceeds from the sale, which amounted to Rp 5 million, were used to purchase 1,400 rattan seedlings that were later planted in Hinas Kiri in November last year.

Earlier in February, one of Kirana’s teachers saw great potential in the project and urged her to join the Switzerland-based International Baccalaureate’s (IB) Global Youth Action Fund (GYAF) competition, which aims to fund youth-led projects that will create positive impacts in surrounding communities.

The teacher ended up being right, as Kirana was selected as one of the winners of the competition. As an awardee, she was granted US$ 3000 to further develop the project, which she used to purchase another 6,000 rattan seedlings as well as pay for professionals who will be ensuring the growth of the seeds in Meratus.

Using her school holiday, Kirana along with Mas Jiwo Pogog and local environmental activist  Kosim, joined hands with dozens of people to plant 6,000 rattan seedlings in HST and surrounding communities from July 7 to 14. Through this project, Kirana also hopes to be able to promote conservation for the Meratus community.

“Seeing Kirana’s fighting spirit is like duplicating myself. She has great potential to make achievements in the future,” said Mas Jiwo, who has received two national awards himself. He became the project assistant, as Kirana stayed on traveling back and forth from Jakarta to Solo.

"This rattan seedling planting project is a very good breakthrough for Kirana. Moreover, many people in Meratus are involved in supporting it. In the future, it is hoped that it will become a potential to generate income for the community and environmental sustainability," he added.

Kosim, who participated in the planting activities for four days, said the project has the potential to improve the surrounding communities' economic standard of living. He noted that rattan can serve as a Non-Timber Forest Product (HHBK) as it can be obtained without having to cut down trees.

"I am frankly very happy, because it will create a new economy and new knowledge for the Meratus community," he said. "We, as Meratus HST residents, should be very grateful for this dedication. Hopefully our residents are motivated by it, so that we can improve our standard of living."

Other than village volunteers, the project also earned Kirana appreciation from the local government, with HST regional secretary Muhammad Yani participating in the rattan planting session. They attested that the project is in line with the HST administration’s policy that is committed to preserving the environment by optimizing the use of sustainable natural resources.

"This is a cadre formation that loves the forest and the biodiversity in Meratus. It should serve as a benchmark for young people today, that the trend is returning to nature," Yani said, adding that the project is an initial step for the young generation from outside in developing forests sustainably.

"The resources that we have are very important, therefore we must also protect them," she said, further reiterating the utilization of one of the natural resources available, which has proven to be productive, especially in making furniture.

Kirana, the great-granddaughter of Indonesia’s first Forestry Minister Soedjarwo, reiterated the importance of protecting Indonesia’s natural resources, which has been proven to be productive in creating furniture and other products.

"Hopefully, the project I am running can be useful and can inspire many people, especially the younger generation to be able to protect and love the environment more," she concluded.

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