The Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific believes that informed and animated youth are at the heart of ecological action. In 2022, it launched Creators of Hope through its Reconciliation with Creation (RwC) network. Creators of Hope supports young individuals and groups across Asia Pacific who are making significant contributions to their communities in responding to ecological crises.
The search for the second group of grantees began last year, and after a thorough review of submissions, the RwC team has selected five initiatives that address a diverse range of focus areas. These include marine life conservation, air pollution reduction, promotion of indigenous handicrafts, the use of film to raise ecological awareness, and pioneering research on sustainable solutions to address the polycrisis.
Fauzan Maulana (Indonesia)
Fauzan Maulana is the representative of Guardians of the Anambas Seas, a community-based reef conservation project piloted by the Anambas Foundation. The initiative seeks to rehabilitate marine ecosystems by empowering fishing communities and promoting sustainable ecotourism in the Riau Islands Province. A junior marine biologist who specialises in sea turtle conservation, Fauzan is joined by three other experts in the rehabilitation of marine and coastal ecosystems: Abdul Rahman Ritonga, Afifa Nafisa Windyana, and Rahmat Caesar.
Sef Arcegono and Jerome Dulin (Philippines)
Filmmakers Sef Arcegono and Jerome Dulin co-founded the North Luzon Cinema Guild, a collective of creatives and cultural workers advocating for human rights in Northern Luzon. They pioneered the production of I Bannag Ta Pansí Batil Potun, a film exploring the impacts of climate change on agriculture and the food industry, particularly on farming communities in Tuguegarao City. Through their work, Sef and Jerome seek to raise ecological awareness and collaborate with farmers, cooks, and local government units to encourage climate action.
Sheen Ochavo (Philippines)
Sheen Ochavo is the founder and executive director of iKilos Bayugan, an organisation that advocates for youth empowerment, environmental protection, and good governance in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. Sheen is motivated by his desire to solve the environmental challenges and mould the future of his community through youth action. iKilos Bayugan created PadyaKalikasan, a portmanteau of the Filipino words padyak (pedal) and kalikasan (environment). The project promotes cycling as a sustainable means of transportation to minimise air pollution in the city.
Sharmaine Blas (Philippines)
Sharmaine Blas started Through Her Hands: Women Weaving Stories, Craft, Restoration to support local women in creating woven products as an ecologically conscious alternative livelihood. By increasing market access, empowering women, and encouraging the responsible utilisation of natural resources, the project aims to provide stable income opportunities for the community while promoting green jobs that align with the environmental and cultural contexts of Barangay Alojipan. Sharmaine is a member of Dulungan Youth, an organisation based in Culasi, Antique, whose founder was a Creators of Hope grantee in 2022.
Karlo Abadinez and Vince Perez (Philippines)
Lastly, Karlo Abadinez and Vince Perez are young advocates for social justice. Their project, Towards Real Utopias, aims to deepen people’s understanding of systemic and interconnected problems and expand their imaginations for concrete alternatives that promote human flourishing for all. They are currently developing a research paper that synthesises various ideas and integrates processes and pedagogies to shape a sustainable societal model that upholds the well-being of all sectors of society.
To learn more about the grantees and their projects, please like and follow @creatorsofhope on Facebook and Instagram. [Cesca Lee/RwC]