How can we bridge the digital gap in a nation of thousands of islands and diverse cultures? Meet Gustaff Iskandar, an Ashoka Fellow from Indonesia who’s doing just that, one community at a time.
Initially focused on urban arts and culture, a new project in 2013 for the West Java provincial government brought Gustaff’s organisation, Common Room, into contact with the Ciptagelar indigenous community. As Gustaff explains, this encounter sparked a realization: "We understood that there is a significant gap between urban and rural digital developments. We saw that we needed to function as a catalyst to encourage more collaborations between people in urban and rural contexts."
What began as a research project developed into a meaningful collaboration. Gustaff connected with a leader of the Ciptagelar community, who showed an interest in modern technology, challenging common perceptions about indigenous communities. This led to the birth of an urban-rural platform for collaborations and innovations.
The challenge was immense. Indonesia, with its over 17,000 islands, presents significant geographic, economic, and policy-related hurdles to connectivity. Many indigenous communities, often in isolated areas, lack basic infrastructure like roads and electricity, making internet access a distant dream. Private companies often find the cost of deployment in these remote locations prohibitive.
Undeterred, Gustaff and his team at Common Room developed a unique and culturally sensitive approach.
The 5-Ls framework that can work anywhere
Their strategy hinges on four core principles for community networks: Legal standing, Safety and Security, Affordability, and Meaningful Connectivity. To make it work on the ground, they devised the ingenious 5-Ls framework: Low Tech, Low Energy, Low Maintenance, Low Learning Curve, and Local Support. This practical approach ensures the sustainability and accessibility of the internet infrastructure in these communities.
After four years of prototyping with the Ciptagelar community, a model emerged that combined infrastructure, community, culture, and policy. This success story saw 37 hamlets in 11 villages connected and generated significant revenue for the community.
More importantly, it demonstrated that respecting cultural aspects and truly listening to the community's needs were paramount. Gustaff wasn't imposing an idea; he was striving for mutual benefit.
Mitigating the possible negative effects of being connected
But simply providing the infrastructure wasn't enough. “There are some unintended consequences of Internet and digital medias as we know, the spread of fake news, disinformation, illicit content and so on” explains Gustaff. “So that is why we feel training and capacity building have to be embedded strongly in some of our work.”
To address this, he established the School of Community Network (SCN). This initiative offers training on everything from basic computer skills to positive internet usage, internet safety, disaster response, and even leveraging the internet for economic opportunities like e-commerce.
Gustaff aims to ensure that internet access brings more good than harm to these communities. Training covers topics like avoiding online gambling, increasing awareness of digital security, and personal data protection.
"During the COVID pandemic outbreak there was a huge shutdown. The mobility between people in different regions had suddenly stopped. And most of government services, including basic services like education, health services only happen where there is internet.” During this period, the SCN became a lifeline, enabling children to participate in virtual schooling.
Gustaff's work is partially supported by Lenovo and its global partnership with Ashoka*. Pratima Harite, Head of Asia Pacific Corporate Citizenship at Lenovo, is an expert in building bridges between corporate and social sectors, and remembers that to be successful, these need several ingredients: "Firstly, shared vision and goals are essential. Both sectors must align on the desired outcomes and the impact they aim to achieve. Secondly, open communication and transparency are crucial. Regular dialogue helps in understanding each other's perspectives, challenges, and strengths. Thirdly, mutual respect and trust form the foundation of any successful partnership."
The potential for (global) expansion
The impact of Gustaff's initiative has been remarkable. Indigenous communities are using the internet to preserve and share their culture. In Bali, one village even developed an app to improve access to administrative services for remote workers. These are just glimpses of the creative ways communities are maximizing their newfound connectivity.
Inspired by the success in Ciptagelar, Gustaff’s model has now been replicated in 12 indigenous communities across five different islands in Indonesia. His work has garnered recognition from local governments, with Central Sulawesi planning to build 100 community-based internet centers based on his model. International organizations have also invited Gustaff to share his approach, opening doors for potential expansion in other parts of Southeast Asia and Asia facing similar connectivity challenges.
"Aligning corporate innovation with grassroots, community-led efforts can lead to transformative outcomes", says Pratima. "One of the most powerful outcomes is the creation of solutions that are deeply rooted in the actual needs and aspirations of the community."
In this journey, technology emerges as a powerful enabler, serving not just as a tool, but as a bridge that connects Indigenous communities to essential rights and resources. Through the work of Common Room, technology empowers individuals across Indonesia to preserve their cultural heritage, foster resilience, amplify their voices, and actively participate in shaping their futures.
The insights, ideas and messages in this article have all been extracted and developed by humans. An AI assistant supported the writing.
