Jakarta. Astra has officially launched the 17th SATU Indonesia Awards 2026, marking nearly two decades of recognizing and empowering young Indonesians who are driving meaningful change across the country.

Carrying the theme “Connected in Action,” this year’s program goes beyond a traditional awards platform. It introduces a more integrated approach by connecting award recipients with Astra’s broader empowerment ecosystem, including the Desa Sejahtera Astra (Prosperous Village) initiative.

Windy Riswantyo, Head of Corporate Communications at Astra, said the awards have evolved significantly over the past 17 years — from a recognition platform into a collaborative space where ideas, courage, and tangible solutions converge.

“For nearly two decades, we have witnessed how young people across Indonesia persistently find solutions despite limitations. They are not waiting for change — they are creating it,” Windy said.

A key highlight of this year’s program is its focus on mentorship and scalability. Award recipients will receive leadership mentoring from Astra and gain access to a network of 1,533 Desa Sejahtera Astra villages spread across 35 provinces. This integration is designed to amplify the social impact of their initiatives and enable broader community development.

Yudha Prasetya, Head of Brand Communications at Astra, explained that the focus on rural collaboration is rooted in the need to bridge development gaps between urban and rural areas.

“Village development is central to advancing the national economy. Through the synergy between SATU Indonesia Awards and Desa Sejahtera Astra, we aim to help winners scale up their impact—not only becoming champions in their own communities but also facilitators who share knowledge across Astra-supported villages,” Yudha said.

The success of this collaborative approach is reflected in the journey of Rizki Dwi Rahmawan, a 2013 award recipient in entrepreneurship. Starting from a simple concern about the underutilized coconut sugar potential in his village of Karang Jengkol, Purbalingga, Rizki built a thriving social enterprise.

“I started this initiative in 2010 while I was still in college. My village doesn’t have rice fields, but it has abundant coconut plantations,” Rizki recalled.

Today, Rizki serves as a facilitator for Desa Sejahtera Astra Mekanira, supporting local farmers and expanding his business ecosystem. His initiative now produces certified organic coconut sugar and has diversified into educational ecotourism, coffee cultivation, and biogas energy.

“Previously, we relied heavily on large traders. Now, we are working towards becoming independent exporters. The challenges are significant—from organic standards to international certification—but Astra’s capacity-building programs have been instrumental in helping us grow,” he said.

To date, SATU Indonesia Awards has recognized 792 outstanding young Indonesians contributing across five sectors: Health, Education, Environment, Entrepreneurship, and Technology. Meanwhile, Desa Sejahtera Astra has supported 1,533 villages nationwide.

By strengthening the integration between these two flagship programs, Astra aims to cultivate local champions who can accelerate sustainable development and create lasting social impact.

The 17th SATU Indonesia Awards is now open for submissions, inviting Indonesia’s next generation of innovators to step forward, connect, and take action for a better future.