The New York Times Covers Local Partner HAkA’s Women Forest Defenders

Thursday, November 30th, 2023

November 30, 2023 — The New York Times highlighted The Asia Foundation’s local partner in Indonesia, HAkA, for their efforts to protect, conserve, and restore the Leuser Ecosystem using a women-led forest defender initiative. Through our environmental governance unit, the Foundation supports HAkA to empower women traditionally excluded from forest protection. This support equips them with essential tools to engage in conservation, restoration, and the community governance efforts necessary to uphold the initiative. Even though, most often, women are the ones who feel the direct impact from environmental loss and climate change, there was a lot of resistance when we brought up the idea of creating a women ranger team,” said Rubama, a community conservation officer for the Forest, Nature and Environment Aceh Foundation, which funds the ranger initiative. “Women are often left out and not allowed to do many roles in Aceh, especially at the village level.

The Asia Foundation and National University of Mongolia Launch First Gender Studies Program

Wednesday, October 4th, 2023

Ulaanbaatar, October 4, 2023 — In a significant move to promote gender equality and advance women’s rights in Mongolia, The Asia Foundation, with support from the Lotus Circle funds and the National University of Mongolia (NUM), has collaborated to launch the country’s inaugural Gender Studies program. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organizations marks a milestone for education and gender advocacy in Mongolia.  The MOU signing brought together key stakeholders from the National Committee on Gender Equality, NUM’s Department of Anthropology and Archeology, and members of the Gender Studies Program task force. The event highlights The Asia Foundation and NUM’s dedication to advancing gender studies as an interdisciplinary field that can provide students from diverse backgrounds with a specialization in gender-related issues necessary to address gender disparities at all levels of society.  Mark Koenig, country representative of The Asia Foundation, Mongolia, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “This partnership between The Asia Foundation, Mongolia, and the National University of Mongolia signifies a significant stride towards gender equity. By launching Mongolia’s first dedicated Gender Studies program, we are fostering a new generation of leaders and advocates who will champion gender equality across the country.”  Badarch Dendev, president of the National University of Mongolia, emphasized the importance of the program, saying, “The National University of Mongolia is proud to incorporate Gender Studies into our curriculum, and this is a crucial step towards nurturing a more inclusive society. We believe that this partnership will not only benefit our students but will also have a positive and lasting impact on Mongolia’s development.”  Enkhbayar Tumur-Ulzii, secretariat and chief of the National Committee on Gender Equality, concluded, “Mongolia’s commitment to gender equality continues to grow, and the launch of this Gender Studies program is a significant development that reflects the nation’s determination to promote women’s rights, challenge gender stereotypes, and create a more equitable society for all.”   The program will commence in the 2023-2024 spring semester, with a diverse range of students expected to enroll and engage in courses from an academic and practical perspective. The Asia Foundation will… Read more

Indonesia’s Women Forest Defenders

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023

A mountainous tropical forest on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the Leuser Ecosystem is the last place on earth where the elephant, rhino, tiger, and orangutan still roam together in the wild. But the forest is under pressure from poachers, illegal loggers, and miners, who strip the land of resources, causing floods and destroying villages. Now, a band of forest defenders, organized and led by women, is demonstrating that social forestry can stop this destructive exploitation by engaging the communities whose lives are entwined with the health of the forest. Beginning with a handful of women in just one village, now, thanks to The Asia Foundation, there’s an Aceh Women Forest Defenders Movement in 15 villages patrolling and protecting the forest. Their remarkable success is due, in part, to our 2023 Lotus Leadership award honoree HAkA, an Indonesia-based organization that supported the women forest defenders’ efforts to petition the government for the right to protect and manage their forests.

Highlights from the 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards Gala

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023

“Our premise is really simple: when you change the lives of women, you can affect an entire society. That’s the power of the multiplier effect,” said Lotus Leadership Awards co-chairs Sydnie Kohara and Elizabeth Keatinge Scheideler. You can become a part of this transformative movement by joining the Lotus Circle. Your contribution supports innovative projects designed to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality in the region, including the Lotus Leadership Rapid Response Fund to address urgent needs.

2023 Lotus Leadership Awards

Friday, April 28th, 2023

On April 26, 2023, The Asia Foundation hosted the 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards in New York City. The eleventh Lotus Leadership Awards honored Gloria Steinem, Google.org, HAkA, and the Aceh Women Forest Defenders Movement from Indonesia. The gala featured special guest Seth Meyers, photographer Nigel Barker and singer-songwriter Katini Yamaoka.  

Gloria Steinem, Google.org, and Aceh Women Forest Defenders to be Honored at 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards

Monday, April 24th, 2023

New York, April 24, 2023 — The Asia Foundation will host the 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards on April 26 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. The eleventh Lotus Leadership Awards will honor Gloria Steinem, Google.org, HAkA, and the Aceh Women Forest Defenders Movement from Indonesia. The gala will feature special guest Seth Meyers, photographer Nigel Barker and singer-songwriter Katini Yamaoka.   The Asia Foundation and Lotus Circle expand women’s and girls’ opportunities and advance gender equality. This year’s honorees have exhibited an enormous amount of bravery and innovation to create lasting changes in society. Gloria Steinem for inspiring global advocacy to advance women’s rights and climate justice; Google.org for their groundbreaking investments to support women’s economic empowerment; and HAkA and the Women Forest Defenders for their visionary leadership in environmental stewardship.    “Our premise is really simple: when you change the lives of women, you can affect an entire society. That’s the power of the multiplier effect,” said Lotus Leadership Awards co-chairs Sydnie Kohara and Elizabeth Keatinge Scheideler.   “We are particularly inspired by our work to strengthen the role and capacity of women environmental defenders to address the devastating environmental impact of extractive practices and loss in livelihoods. This year’s Lotus Leadership honorees are making lasting change, improving lives, and helping societies flourish. These are the very characteristics that define The Asia Foundation, and The Lotus Circle is thrilled to honor and collaborate with them.”  Funding from the Lotus Circle—a community of philanthropists committed to advancing women’s rights and opportunities in Asia and the Pacific—allows The Asia Foundation to seed and sustain innovative projects designed to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality in the region, including the Lotus Leadership Rapid Response Fund to address urgent needs. Proceeds from this evening will support work that makes a lasting impact on women’s and girls’ lives in the Asia-Pacific.    The Asia Foundation thanks our generous supporters: Visionary sponsor Regeneron and Champion sponsor Kirkland & Ellis. Register for the 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards and learn more about the Lotus Circle.  The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and… Read more

2023 Lotus Leadership Awards Gala

Thursday, April 13th, 2023

The Asia Foundation will host the 2023 Lotus Leadership Awards on April 26 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. The eleventh Lotus Leadership Awards will honor Gloria Steinem, Google.org, HAkA, and the Aceh Women Forest Defenders Movement from Indonesia. The gala will feature special guest Seth Meyers, photographer Nigel Barker and singer-songwriter Katini Yamaoka.

Advancing Women’s Rights and Opportunities with Lotus Circle Funds

Friday, March 31st, 2023

The Lotus Circle is a vibrant community of committed individuals and organizations supporting The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Program to strengthen economic, social, and political rights and opportunities for women and girls in Asia and the Pacific. The Asia Foundation launched the Lotus Circle in 2007 to engage a growing group of philanthropists committed to investing in women across Asia. Funds raised strengthen The Asia Foundation’s work in women’s empowerment and gender equality, and promote gender mainstreaming efforts. To date, more than $4.3 million in Lotus Circle Funds have been programmed through more than 100 grants and projects.

The Women Defending Indonesia’s Forests

Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

“You can’t protect what you don’t love, and you can’t love what you don’t know.” Indonesian women harness the local power of social forestry.

2022 Lotus Leadership Awards

Thursday, April 7th, 2022

On Wednesday April 6th, 2022 The Asia Foundation hosted the 10th Lotus Leadership Awards in New York City. This year’s awards honored Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms, for working to close the gender gap in STEM for women and girls; the G-Star RAW Denim Foundation, for advancing women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment; and Kampuchea Action to Promote Education for strengthening girls’ education and leadership in Cambodia.