Empowering Batin Sembilan through information and conservation

Organizational Profile

Amira Vijaya Academy

amira.co.id is part of Amira Academy, a community-based non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Jambi with operational coverage across Sumatra. The organization is professionally managed, credible, and dedicated to strengthening the capacity of communities, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups such as Indigenous peoples, women, women farmers, persons with disabilities, and other minority communities.

Amira Academy was established to promote an inclusive, equitable, participatory, and sustainable society by improving access to education, information, digital literacy, social participation, and community empowerment. Through participatory and community-centered approaches, the organization creates spaces for learning, advocacy, research, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen social inclusion and community resilience.

The organization also integrates climate justice and environmental sustainability into its work, recognizing that social justice, Indigenous rights, and environmental protection are closely interconnected.

Vision

To build an inclusive, critical, equitable, and empowered society through education, capacity strengthening, and sustainable social collaboration.

Mission

• To strengthen the capacity of minority and vulnerable groups so they can actively participate in social life and development processes.
• To promote media literacy and strengthen community resilience against disinformation.
• To develop inclusive and sustainability-based education and training programs.
• To strengthen collaboration among communities, media, government institutions, and civil society organizations.
• To promote environmental protection and Indigenous rights through participatory approaches.

Core Areas of Work

Amira Academy focuses on the following key areas:

• Capacity strengthening for Indigenous communities
• Women’s empowerment and support for vulnerable groups
• Inclusive education and digital literacy
• Counter-disinformation and media literacy programs
• Community-based social conflict prevention
• Environmental advocacy and sustainable development
• Community-based social, cultural, and environmental research

Organizational Strategy

Amira Academy applies a community-based and participatory approach that positions local communities as the main actors of social transformation. The organization’s strategy includes:

• Capacity-building through training, mentoring, and community leadership development
• Participatory program design, implementation, and evaluation involving local communities
• Cross-sector collaboration with civil society organizations, media, academics, government institutions, and private sector actors
• Strengthening media and information literacy to address disinformation and digital challenges
• Evidence-based and research-driven programming to ensure relevance and sustainability
• Integrating climate justice and environmental sustainability into all community empowerment initiatives

This strategy enables Amira Academy to create sustainable and long-term impacts while strengthening community ownership and resilience.

Tracking Impact

Amira Academy conducts regular monitoring and evaluation processes to measure program effectiveness and long-term impact. The organization applies participatory monitoring methods that involve communities directly in assessing progress and outcomes.

Impact tracking includes:

• Participatory evaluation with beneficiary communities
• Pre- and post-training assessments to measure knowledge and capacity improvement
• Documentation of behavioral and social changes within communities
• Monitoring the participation of vulnerable groups in community decision-making processes
• Collection of stories of change, community feedback, and local best practices
• Strengthening community data systems to support future program development

Through this approach, Amira Academy is able to identify measurable social impacts, including improved community capacity, strengthened social cohesion, increased environmental awareness, reduced risks of social conflict, and greater inclusiveness at the local level.

How We Regenerate

Amira Academy believes that sustainability is not only about environmental protection, but also about regenerating knowledge, leadership, and community capacity. The organization therefore promotes regenerative approaches through:

• Supporting the emergence of young community facilitators and local leaders
• Encouraging intergenerational knowledge transfer, particularly related to Indigenous culture and environmental conservation
• Strengthening sustainable local livelihoods and community-based economic initiatives
• Developing inclusive community learning spaces that adapt to social and digital changes
• Strengthening solidarity networks among communities and civil society organizations
• Documenting Indigenous and local knowledge to support cultural and environmental sustainability

This regenerative approach aims to build resilient communities capable of sustaining and leading positive social transformation independently over the long term.

Opportunities

Amira Academy identifies significant opportunities for strengthening civil society and sustainable development across Sumatra, including:

• Increasing demand for digital and media literacy at the community level
• Growing global attention to climate justice and Indigenous rights
• Opportunities for multi-stakeholder collaboration involving communities, governments, media, academia, and international donors
• Strong local knowledge systems among Indigenous communities that support environmental conservation
• The need to strengthen inclusiveness for women, persons with disabilities, and minority groups
• Opportunities for developing sustainable community-based livelihoods and local economies

With its field experience and collaborative networks, Amira Academy aims to become a strategic bridge between local communities and broader development stakeholders.

Solutions

Amira Academy provides community-driven solutions focused on education, empowerment, and capacity strengthening to address social and environmental challenges. Its solutions include:

• Community-based media literacy and counter-disinformation training
• Assistance for Indigenous communities in understanding rights, information access, and territorial governance
• Capacity strengthening for women and vulnerable groups in social and economic sectors
• Development of community dialogue spaces and conflict prevention mechanisms
• Participatory research to support evidence-based advocacy and policymaking
• Environmental awareness and ecosystem protection initiatives rooted in local approaches
• Cross-sector partnerships to strengthen long-term sustainability and impact

Through these initiatives, Amira Academy contributes to building resilient, informed, inclusive, and environmentally responsible communities.

Experience and Track Record

In 2024, Amira Academy implemented a capacity-strengthening program for the Indigenous Batin Sembilan community in Batanghari Regency, Jambi. The program focused on combating disinformation as an early step toward preventing social conflict within communities.

Through training sessions, community discussions, and information literacy activities, the organization helped communities understand the importance of information verification, responsible media use, and social resilience against misleading information. The initiative also strengthened community understanding of Indigenous rights, land-related information, and communication with companies operating within their territories.

In addition, Amira Academy conducts research on the lives of the Batin Sembilan people, who are widely recognized as guardians and frontline protectors of the forest ecosystems where they live. This research documents Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural practices, and community contributions to environmental sustainability and forest conservation.

Amira Academy also supports minority and vulnerable groups through mentoring and inclusion-based programs aimed at improving access to education, information, social participation, economic opportunities, and adequate facilities that support sustainable livelihoods.

Leadership

Amira Academy is led by Jon Afrizal, a senior journalist and environmental activist with more than 20 years of experience reporting on environmental and human rights issues in Jambi. The province is home to four major national park areas and plays an important role in Indonesia’s environmental landscape.

His extensive experience in journalism and advocacy has become a strong foundation for the organization’s evidence-based, community-oriented, and sustainability-focused approach. In addition to his advocacy work, Jon Afrizal has authored four books on environmental issues and three books on history and culture, all closely related to environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and community knowledge in Jambi.

Partners

Amira Academy collaborates with a range of civil society organizations, media institutions, and environmental partners, including:

• International Center for Journalists
• PT Restorasi Ekosistem Indonesia (Harapan Rainforest)
• Walhi Jambi
• KKI Warsi
• Aliansi Jurnalis Independen Kota Jambi
• Mitra Aksi
• Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria
• Pundi Sumatera
• Yayasan Cappa Keadilan Ekologi
• Perkumpulan Alam Hijau
• Yayasan Setara Jambi

Donor Network

• International Center for Journalists (2024)
• PT Restorasi Ekosistem Indonesia (2024 – present)

Through its experience, partnerships, and commitment to inclusiveness and sustainability, Amira Academy continues to position itself as a strategic partner for civil society, government institutions, media organizations, and international stakeholders in promoting equitable and sustainable development across Sumatra.