About WYDII

Founded in Surabaya in 2009, Women and Youth Development Institute of Indonesia (WYDII) works to strengthen the role of women and young people in public life through leadership development, civic education, and rights-based advocacy. Focused primarily in eastern Indonesia, WYDII advances gender equality, environmental justice, democratic participation, and human rights across some of the country’s most socially and culturally diverse regions. 

Built on participatory leadership and social justice, WYDII combines civic education, women’s rights advocacy, youth organizing, and digital inclusion initiatives to expand opportunities for marginalized communities to participate in public decision-making at local and national levels. The organization works closely with students, community  activists, academics, parliamentarians, and local  leaders to strengthen democratic participation and promote inclusive governance. 

A major focus of WYDII’s work is youth leadership and campus organizing. Through partnerships with 22 universities across Indonesia, the organization has supported student-led movements addressing sexual violence on campuses, youth mental health, environmental justice, and gender equality. WYDII also works to address stigma and discrimination against LGBTQI+ communities while promoting safer and more inclusive public spaces. 

Since joining Women’s Learning Partnership in 2013, WYDII has expanded its national and regional networks while adapting WLP curricula and documentaries into Bahasa Indonesia for local training and advocacy programs. Through workshops on participatory leadership, media engagement, electoral participation, environmental awareness, and digital literacy, the organization has directly trained thousands of women and young people and reached hundreds of thousands more through local  campaigns, public events, and online organizing. 

Today, WYDII continues to build platforms for women, youth, and marginalized communities to advocate for human rights, dignity, and equality, using technology, feminist organizing, and community leadership to drive lasting social change across Indonesia.

Key Accomplishments

• Supported the advancement of women leaders into public office, including district parliaments, electoral bodies, and governance institutions through long-term mentorship programs. 
• Expanded university-based networks on gender equality from 11 to 22 institutions, strengthening campus engagement on women’s rights and leadership. 
• Established anti-sexual violence task forces across Indonesian universities and supported campus-based advocacy on gender equality and safety. 
• Trained women political candidates on leadership, digital safety, and ethical campaigning ahead of national elections, reaching hundreds of participants through expanded training programs. 
• Adapted programming during the COVID-19 pandemic to support vulnerable communities, including initiatives supporting financially affected mothers in East Java. 
• Mentored student leaders using WLP curricula, resulting in the development of campus-based advocacy initiatives and peer education programs. 
• Supported women’s political participation initiatives that contributed to increased representation of women in local governance structures and village-level planning processes. 
• Conducted extensive election-focused leadership training for women candidates, with a significant proportion of participants going on to hold elected office.

Organizational Programs and Activities 

• Women’s Political Participation and Leadership: WYDII conducts training programs for women candidates, emerging leaders, and community  organizers on political participation, leadership development, and electoral engagement. Programs also focus on digital tools and social media for advocacy and campaign organizing. 
• Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement: Works with university students and young activists to build leadership skills, promote civic participation, and strengthen engagement in social justice issues including gender equality and democratic governance. 
• Women’s Rights and Gender-Based Violence Prevention: Implements education and advocacy programs on women’s rights, gender-based violence prevention, and legal literacy, integrating international human rights frameworks and local contexts in its trainings. 
• Digital Inclusion and Technology for Social Change: Promotes the use of information and communication technologies to support advocacy, civic participation, and women’s civic participation and leadership, including training on social media and digital organizing. 
• Environmental and Community Advocacy: Engages youth in environmental awareness and community-based development initiatives, with a focus on integrating gender perspectives into local governance and disaster preparedness.