Rivers sustain communities. Communities sustain rivers. We strengthen the people who protect them.
Who we are
Makara is a Dutch foundation that coordinates river protection projects in Indonesia — with women’s groups and youth at the centre of everything we do. We don’t implement projects ourselves. We initiate, connect, and strengthen. Our local partners lead the work; we provide the methodology, network, and funding.
Founded formally in 2025, Makara builds on over a decade of hands-on work by founder Christa Nooy along rivers in Java and Sulawesi, in close partnership with ECOTON — an Indonesian organisation with 25+ years of river protection experience.
Our vision
We envision a future where rivers in Indonesia are free from waste and ecologically healthy — protected by the communities who depend on them. Lasting change comes from within: when women and young people have the tools, knowledge, and authority to act, rivers recover and communities thrive.
Our objectives
Makara strengthens local communities — particularly women’s groups and youth — in protecting rivers from plastic pollution and environmental degradation. We do this by:
At least 89% of all funds go directly to the mission.
Our impact
Women leading change
Makara supports women’s groups to become leaders in environmental decision-making, entrepreneurship, and local policy. Women manage water and waste daily — they are the first to experience pollution, and the first to act.
Results so far: 16 women-led refill shops on Java, preventing 100,000+ plastic sachets from entering the waste stream in six months. The REFILIN mobile microfranchise now reaches remote villages by bicycle and motorbike. On Sulawesi, 12 women’s groups completed lobby training, directly contributing to formal waste management policy in the Bulukumba district.
Youth driving action
In six villages on Sulawesi, students mapped pollution hotspots with GPS and cameras and presented findings to the local parliament. Three schools banned single-use plastics from their canteens. Students planted 1,000 trees along riverbanks across three villages.
Plastic reduction at the source
Rather than cleaning up plastic, the communities Makara supports tackle it at the source, through refill shops, plastic-free local products, and structural changes to school and village policy.
Waste management embedded in local governance
In four villages on Sulawesi, community groups secured waste management budgets in their official village plans (APBDes), with collection points, compost facilities, and sorting systems now funded by the villages themselves.
Ecosystem restoration
On Java, fishing communities established fish reserves and restocked rivers. Agroforestry cooperatives reforested protected areas and monitor against illegal logging.
Our approach
All projects follow one integrated methodology: the AKSI Brantas Approach — developed along the Brantas River in East Java and proven in the Balantieng River basin on Sulawesi. It puts women’s daily experience at the centre, combining citizen science, community organising, and local governance to create lasting change.
Read more about our approach →
Where we work
Two river basins in Indonesia: the Brantas River (East Java) and the Balantieng River (South Sulawesi). Exploring expansion to Pulau Seribu, a protected archipelago off Jakarta heavily impacted by plastic pollution.
Policy priorities 2026–2028
Following the establishment of its organisational foundation in 2025, Makara will concentrate on three strategic priorities during the 2026–2028 period:
Why Makara?
Makaras guard water temples in South and Southeast Asia. Local communities care for the surrounding forest and all that lives within it — and the source gives back pure water in return. During her travels, Christa Nooy encountered this image of mutual care and immediately recognised something in it. The makara, a mythological creature from the Hindu and Buddhist tradition, moves between land and water. A symbol of the connection between forest and river, biodiversity and community. That is the foundation of Makara.
Our board
Stichting Makara is governed by an independent, voluntary board. Board members serve without compensation.
Christa Nooy — Secretary & Founder
Founder and driving force since 2016. 25+ years of experience in South and Southeast Asia with Both ENDS, TU Delft, UNDP, and ECOTON. Developer of the AKSI Brantas Approach.
Arnoud Schouten — Chair
GIS advisor in nature management at Puur Water en Natuur, with a background in tropical ecology and conservation experience at WWF. Brings expertise in geodata, remote sensing, and field research in the tropics.
Lieke Luttmer — Treasurer
Board member at Zorg en Zekerheid. Brings extensive leadership experience in digital transformation from organisations including ING, Ahold, and NN Group.
Annual Report
Each year, Makara publishes an annual report with an overview of our projects, results and finances. We believe in transparency and accountability — to our partners, donors and the communities we work with.
🇬🇧 Download Annual Report 2025 (PDF)
🇳🇱 Download Jaarverslag 2025 (PDF)
Support our work
Your donation goes directly to communities protecting their rivers. At least 89% of all funds go to our mission.
Stichting Makara · IBAN: NL13 SWNB 1571 2716 57 · BIC (SWIFT): SWNBNL22 · info@makara.earth