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A fisherman supplier for SmartFish in Mexico

Social enterprises driving global change on World Food Day

Every year on 16 October, World Food Day highlights important topics such as food waste, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and the challenges faced by fishing communities — all in an effort to combat climate change. This year's theme is "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”. It's the perfect opportunity for us to shine a spotlight on the incredible efforts of social entrepreneurs, who are making everyday life better for so many people and how they're creating a more sustainable and inclusive world.

Product making by women

HANDEP

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Create rattan-based crafts that create income opportunities for Indigenous Dayak women.

In Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia, deforestation threatens the third-largest rainforest in the world. At the same time, local Dayak communities face poverty and social marginalisation, putting both their livelihoods and traditions at risk.

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Location
Purei Mount, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Programme
I-SEA Programme
in partnership with Instellar Impact

Website
www.HANDEP.co

Randi Julian, founder of HANDEP, witnessed these struggles growing up in the Dayak community which inspired him to protect Dayak land, culture, and communities. He established HANDEP, a social enterprise brand rooted in Indigenous identity and forest stewardship. It aims to address rural poverty, forest degradation, and cultural erosion.

HANDEP has developed a village-based economy built around rattan production and non-timber forest products that empowers Indigenous Dayak communities, particularly women. The name HANDEP is borrowed from the Dayak Ngaju dialect, which means, as a whole, the spirit of working together and helping each other as a family or community.

Since 2019, HANDEP has empowered 250 rattan farmers and artisans across five villages in Central Kalimantan. Since joining HANDEP, the artisans have reported an income increase of over 50%, selling more than 15,000 products over five years. HANDEP has also successfully protected around 500 hectares of forest and planted 1,000 rattan seeds in partner villages through a rattan agroforestry model, helping to conserve existing forests and capture more carbon.

HANDEP believes that Indigenous voices must be at the centre of shaping a just and sustainable future. They aim to continue reclaiming Indigenous identity, restoring ecosystems, and showing that community-led sustainable development is both possible and powerful.

Programme Support

Through the I-SEA Programme with Instellar, we’ll support HANDEP’s efforts to create long-term and fair income opportunities for female artisans while protecting Borneo’s forests. This includes providing practical guidance, mentorship, and networking opportunities with potential global customers.

We look forward to assisting HANDEP as they create rattan handicrafts and support Indigenous communities.