2024 Fiscal Year-End Meeting: Paving the Way to Wisnu Foundation’s 40th Anniversary

In early May 2025, Wisnu Foundation held the 2024 Fiscal Year-End Meeting as a space for shared reflection to evaluate organizational achievements, strengthen internal structures, and develop strategic steps towards a more focused and impactful future.

The meeting was attended by the Trustees, Supervisors, Management, and Daily Executives. The Trustees and Supervisors provided in-depth input regarding the direction of the Foundation and the challenges faced amidst complex social and ecological changes in Bali.

2024 Achievements: Moving with Limitations, Making an Impact with Commitment

Despite limited resources, 2024 witnessed the strong spirit of the Wisnu Foundation in the following activities:

• Strengthening the Foundation’s Organs
• Expansion of cooperation: 4 proposals submitted, 1 accepted
• Formation of the Expert Council and regular discussions: not yet implemented
• Improvement of management, employment, and financial SOPs
• Addition of 2 young staff and 8 village coordinators
• Celebration of the 31st Anniversary with the participation of 300+ people as a medium for disseminating information

Community Resource Management (CRM)

• DWE Nyambu: Active Pokdarwis with 6 members, increasing managerial capacity
• Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Tenganan Pegringsingan: comprehensive training on ecotourism, waste management, and entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship Enhancement: management of palm fruit and candlenut oil through traditional institutions
• DWE Natural Production: producing and selling natural soap, challenges in business licensing
• JED Development: strengthening the leadership of young ecotourism managers in 4 villages/communities

CRM Research and Information Dissemination

• Low Emission Area Study (LEA): analysis of community perceptions in 6 regions of Bali
• Mapping of Catur Traditional Village: produce territorial boundary maps and socio-cultural documents
• Database Preparation: increasing the capacity for map and spatial management using ArcGIS. This activity is part of the collaboration between BRWA, MDA, and the Wisnu Foundation. Upload website & social media: 360° Wisnu Office documentation, IG/FB feeds, articles, and Youtube videos

Strategic Collaboration Network

• CBIT: joining the Climate Transparency Hub
• Bali Natural Resources Team: contributing input on water management at the natural resources Utilization Commission
• UI Faculty of Law: collaboration in drafting the Waste Village Regulation in Ped Village, Nusa Penida
• University of Buffalo: satellite imaginer mapping of Lake Tamblingan and international presentation of GeoAI
• Rumah Akar Daya: involved in the movement for food, water, and energy independence across communities

External Participation

Wisnu Foundation is active in various forums such as World Water Week, Muswil III AMAN Bali, ICCA Workshop, Pedawa Traditional School, and collaborative work with organizations such as IKa, Komnas Perempuan, IDEP, and others.

Evaluative Notes: Strengthening the Foundation, Setting Direction

The mentors and supervisors provided important notes as material for introspection and strengthening:

Mr. Doni reminded the importance of writing down the Foundation’s real or self-help contributions, not just a series of numbers and partners, so that it can be seen that Wisnu is moving because of commitment, not just because of funding support.

Mr. Sujana said that limitations are not obstacles as long as there is commitment and sincere intentions. Hopefully, in the future, supervision and program implementation can run more optimally and synergistically.

Mrs. Diah emphasized that hope actually grows from the grassroots community, which is now a fortress in guarding Bali. Wisnu has survived until now because it has walked with the community. Let’s make targets together, not only in 2025, but benchmarks until 2033 in building hope, because the archipelago is a cluster of diverse cultures.

Mrs. Kus was invited to highlight the role of mothers and women in conservation and food security through small actions such as planting vegetables, spices, and coconuts in the yard so that mothers do not depend on the market economy. Mothers are also guardians of cultural heritage that need to be the focus of work and appreciated.

Mr. Sadra criticized the dependence on tourism and encouraged independent living through the concept of swadeshi. Invited the Wisnu Foundation to revive independence through a distribution mechanism for results and restart banjar schools. Independence is not an option but a must. Bali must return to its identity according to the concept of life designed by the ancestors of the Balinese people.

Mr. Japa highlighted the threat of immigrant growth to Balinese customs and living space, and encouraged the strengthening of awig-awig in the village.

Mr. Ketut Sumarta encouraged the restructuring of more focused work programs, building traditional economic networks, and setting a direction towards the Foundation’s 40th anniversary. 32 years is proof of Wisnu’s resilience.

Mr. Suar encouraged us not to always be humble when in fact we are doing great work. In the midst of social engineering that disrupts harmony, it is important to reaffirm pride and hope through real work in the community.

Hopes and Steps Ahead: Towards 2033

The meeting also formulated strategic steps forward:

• Preparing the 2025–2033 Long-Term Plan, marking the journey towards the 40th golden age of the Wisnu Foundation.
• Strengthening the regeneration of village leaders and young cadres, as well as the involvement of women in the entire program cycle.
• Restructuring the focus of the program based on village strengths: institutions, economy, environment, and research.
• Becoming an institution that is not only present in the field, but also builds a narrative to be able to influence regional and national policies from grassroots movements.
• Building a strong institutional branding with data and voices from the community.

 

The Wisnu Foundation has survived the social dynamics that are happening in Bali and globally for 32 years. This is not only because of its internal strength, but because of its commitment to always learn from the community and move with the community. 2024 is a reflective year to prepare steps towards a more impactful and rooted organizational transformation.

 

“Happy 32nd birthday to Wisnu Foundation. Let’s keep walking together, building hope from the village, and keeping Bali’s living space more balanced.”