The British Council Indonesia is pleased to announce the five projects selected for the Alumni UK Grant Programmes 2026-27 in Indonesia. Selected through a competitive process these outstanding UK alumni will lead innovative projects addressing two key themes: Inclusion, Reducing Inequality & Empowerment and Climate Action & Sustainability.
Drawing on the knowledge, networks, and experiences gained through their studies in the UK, the grant recipients will lead innovative, community-driven initiatives designed to create meaningful and lasting impacts across Indonesia.
Since 2023, the British Council in Indonesia has supported alumni-led initiatives through its Social Action Grant and Climate Action Grant schemes. To date, 18 UK alumni-led projects have been implemented across the country, addressing a wide range of social, educational, environmental, and community development challenges. These initiatives demonstrate the potential of UK alumni networks to positive change and strengthen collaboration among communities, institutions, and partners.
Interest in the programme continues to grow. This year, the British Council Indonesia received 141 project proposals from UK alumni across Indonesia, reflecting the growing enthusiasm of the alumni community to contribute solutions to local and global challenges.
Climate & sustainability
Balikin – A cup of change
Project lead: Wijaya Surya – Alumus of City of St Georges, University of London
Over five months, this project will strengthen its reusable cup initiative through three key activities: developing operational and quality-assurance systems, delivering training and stakeholder engagement campaigns, and piloting the improved service at five major events. By combining stronger internal processes with targeted outreach and practical demonstrations, the project aims to increase trust, adoption, and participation in reusable cup systems while generating practical insights to refine and scale the model for wider impact.
From indigenous wisdom to climate action: Building collective ecoparenting for sustainable communities
Project lead: Muhamad Salis Yuniardi – Alumnus of Newcastle University
This project translates research on collective eco-parenting among the Kajang Ammatoa community into practical, community-led climate action. Through co-design workshops involving educators, parents, young people, researchers, and local communities in Malang and Makassar, the project will adapt indigenous ecological wisdom into locally relevant climate initiatives. Supported by a Climate Action Toolkit, activities will be implemented in schools and communities, followed by participatory reflection and impact assessments. By empowering communities to shape their own solutions, the project aims to promote sustainable behavioural change and intergenerational climate action grounded in Indigenous knowledge and local contexts.
Inclusion, reducing inequality, and empowerment
Beyond physical accessibility: Localising UK neuro-inclusive transit best practices for the Jakarta MRT pilot
Project lead: Fia Mahanani – Alumna of The University of Manchester
This project will pilot Indonesia’s first neuro-inclusive public transport framework at MRT Jakarta, adapting the UK’s Autistica Neuroinclusion Framework to the local context. Activities will include a sensory audit, the development of digital social stories and sensory maps, training for 30 frontline MRT staff in sensory awareness and de-escalation techniques, and 10 guided transit experiences involving more than 200 neurodivergent people and caregivers. Participants will also receive sensory kits and accessible travel resources. The project will conclude in policy recommendations for MRT Jakarta, with the aim of developing a scalable model for cognitive accessibility that could be extended to other public transport systems, including LRT, KRL, and TransJakarta.
MUSEUMLAH — Museum inclusion toolkit for Indonesia: Training museum practitioners to build accessible and inclusive spaces for persons with disabilities
Project lead: Nevine Rafa Kusuma – Alumna of University of Westminster
Building on three years of doctoral research, this project aims to help museums become more accessible and inclusive for Indonesia’s estimated 22.97 million persons with disabilities. The project will develop an Inclusive Museum Appraisal Tool (IMAT), providing practical guidance for museums to assess and improve accessibility across physical spaces, services, programmes, and visitor experiences. Through training-of-trainers workshops, museum practitioners from across Indonesia will gain the knowledge and skills to champion inclusive practices within their institutions. By translating academic research into practical tools and capacity-building programmes, MUSEUMLAH aims to strengthen the museum sector’s ability to create welcoming cultural spaces where everyone can participate, engage, and feel a sense of belonging.
Taksu festival: Mind, access and belonging
Project lead: Awi Chin – Alumnus of The University of Edinburgh
This three-month community festival will explore mental health, inclusion, accessibility, and human rights through dialogue, the arts, and public engagement. Running from October to December, the festival will feature panel discussions, practical workshops, film screenings, and an art market. The October programme will focus on mental health, including youth suicide prevention, stigma, digital wellbeing, and lived-experience approaches. In November, the festival will highlight underrepresented and Eastern Indonesian voices through storytelling and creative workshops. December will focus on disability inclusion and human rights, with discussions on psychosocial and invisible disabilities, alongside activities for neurodivergent children. By bringing together diverse communities, practitioners, and advocates, the festival aims to foster greater understanding, participation, and a sense of belonging for all.
About the grant
The Alumni UK Grant Programmes 2026–27 form part of the British Council's global commitment to supporting UK alumni as leaders and changemakers in their communities and professional sectors. The programme provide funding for innovative ideas that address global challenges, pilot new approaches, and strengthen collaboration through the global Alumni UK network.
About Alumni UK
Alumni UK is the global network for international graduates of UK higher education institutions. It connects alumni from around the world, providing opportunities for professional networking, collaboration, learning, and career development. Through initiatives such as the Alumni UK Grant Programmes, the network supports alumni in turning ideas into action and amplifying their impact in communities, sectors, and countries worldwide.