It's official: we've got NGO status!
No-Trash Triangle Initiative is now officially an Indonesian NGO!
Thanks to lots of hard work from the team in Manado, we’ve just been given official foundation status by the Indonesian government. This is the culmination of our efforts to create an organisation which is backed by local individuals with support from an international network. Official NGO status unlocks multiple funding options for the No-Trash Triangle Initiative and lends us a credibility which will hopefully make conversations with official bodies and local governments that little bit easier.
More practically, NGO status means we now have an Indonesian bank account which can be used to make distribution of funding and management of donations simpler and more efficient.
We have expanded our team as part of the NGO application process to ensure that we have input and support from Indonesian conservationists and industry leaders. Our broader team is now made up of individuals from a range of backgrounds and professions, all of whom are dedicated to trying to keep the Coral Triangle plastic free.
Meet our new team members:
Amelia Tungka, Co-chairperson
Amelia has long been a supporter of the No-Trash Triangle Initiative. A passionate diver and influential Manado businesswoman, Amelia has been instrumental in setting up our logistics network. She founded CV Daur Sinar Gemilang (DSG) in 2018, which processes plastic from across the region for recycling. Read more about the work we’re doing together here.
Angelique Batuna, Co-chairperson
Owner of Murex Dive Resorts, Angelique has been passionate about marine conservation her whole life. Murex have long been a leader in pushing for more sustainable tourism practices and we look forward to gaining valuable insight from Angelique as we roll out our resort partner programme across the North Sulawesi region.
Arjun Langitan, Co-chairperson
With 22 years experience as a dive guide, Arjun has seen first hand the impact of plastic pollution on the Coral Triangle’s reefs. We look forward to working with Arjun as he supports our expansion and engagement of local communities. Based on Bunaken, Arjun will help us take our model to new island communities beyond Bangka.
Rena Novena, Advocate and Local Outreach
A passionate environmentalist, Rena has worked with the No-Trash Triangle Initiative for a number of years through her involvement with SeaSoldier Sulawesi Utara. Rena was involved in getting our local education programme off the ground and we look forward to continue working with her as we expand our local outreach.
Andrew Palit, Treasurer
Andrew is a local entrepreneur who works closely with local government as a member of special staff for the Vice Mayor of Manado. We hope to tap into his experience and network to grow our relationships with local businesses and government bodies as well as influencing young people across the region.
Mila Lahiwo, General Secretary
With a Bachelor of Law and years of experience working as secretary for Megamas Group, Mila is the perfect candidate to serve as our General Secretary. Mila has been instrumental in leading the administrative required to get our foundation status. She also has many years of guiding businesses in their environmental practices through her time spent serving on Megamas’ environmental leadership team.
Anna Clerici, Volunteer
Having worked with No-Trash Triangle for a number of years, Anna is a vital member of the team who has been instrumental in setting up our operations in Manado, Bangka and beyond. Drawing on her years of experience working as a resort manager, Anna is leading on building out our resort partner programme along with expanding our logistics network to support businesses and local communities. Anna acts as the link between the team on the ground and our international supporters including Cleanhub and PRLS.
And of course, our original team remain invested in making the expansion of the Initiative a success. We’ve received funding support from Aqueis to enable our foundation application and continue to be guided by our founders Dr Miriam Weber and Christian Lott as well as the third founding member, Marco Segre-Reinach, owner of Coral Eye, who continues to support us by providing logistical support with our sorting station and lots more. The broader team includes Gráinne Regan and Andreas Eich who support on marketing and content and there are of course many others who play vital roles in making the Initiative a success. We can’t wait to draw on this myriad of experience and expertise to further increase our positive impact.