Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture

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Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture (Yayasan IDEP) is an Indonesian non-profit foundation that was formally established in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia in 1998, at the height of Indonesia’s economic crisis. IDEP’s objective was to respond to urgent needs for sustainable food production and resource management, while conveying the importance of environmental education for sustainable living.

Between 1999-2000 Yayasan IDEP successfully conducted several Permaculture Training of Trainer Courses, with the assistance of the some of the world’s most acclaimed Permaculture Trainers. IDEP facilitated the certification of over 200 people from throughout Indonesia. As the result of these courses, various Permaculture related projects have been initiated nation-wide.

After 2000, Yayasan IDEP applied the knowledge gained from feedback of original pilots to develop its own community based sustainable development pilot programs. It began testing innovative approaches to raising environmental awareness through public awareness media campaigns and curriculum development, while disseminating practical solutions to environmental, social and economic problems within local communities.

IDEP achieves its goals by:

Introducing sustainable living solutions for households, businesses, schools & communities
Introducing innovative approaches to environmental education into local schools
Working directly with local communities at the grass roots level to pilot test projects
Developing models for micro credit cooperative programs
Constructing working demonstrations of small-scale organic food production
Constructing working demonstrations of appropriate technology for waste management and wastewater treatment
Developing eco-literacy through community based development media & curricula
Sharing knowledge gained and media through local NGO networks
Conducting media training & supporting local NGO partners with their programs

Since the Bali Bombing tragedy in October 2002, the rapid decline of Bali’s economic stability has harshly brought home the reality of the un-sustainability of an economy primarily based on tourism. Yayasan IDEP is addressing increased requests for support from local communities to continue and expand its programs.

In 2001 IDEP launched a Community Based Crisis Response Program that will help local Indonesian communities to be more prepared for and to better manage disasters.

IDEP is currently in Aceh, Indonesia helping with humanitarian support after the 2004 Tsunami.

They have also developed Wastewater Gardens a small-scale sewage treatment systems similar to Reedbeds.