About Us
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 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 2020–2024 along the Brantas River in East Java, and since proven in the Balantieng River basin on Sulawesi.
It starts with the problems women experience daily. Women’s groups document pollution using water measurements, microplastic analysis, and GPS mapping — evidence that strengthens their voice with village authorities and government. They then develop their own solutions: refill shops, waste systems, riverbank greening, fish reserves. Through the AKSI Brantas Alliance for Women Empowerment, groups across villages share knowledge and adopt common standards — scaling not top-down, but community to community.
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.
Why Makara?
Makara is a mythical water creature from South and Southeast Asia, formed from the crocodile, elephant, and fish. It symbolizes the inseparable connection between people, animals, water, and forests — the core belief behind our work.
Our board
Stichting Makara is governed by an independent, voluntary board. Board members receive no compensation.
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.
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.
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 · www.makara.earth
Stichting Makara has applied for ANBI status (pending).