Indonesia is continuously facing many serious environmental problems. It is listed as the second-largest contributor to marine plastic pollution in the world, with about 3.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. Deforestation rates are also high, regardless of laws and regulations.

There have been several efforts from the government and other independent organizations to solve these problems through sustainability program education in schools (Adiwiyata). However, only 1% of schools in Indonesia participated in this Adiwiyata program (Ministry of Education and Culture, 2018).

This situation leads us to an urgent need for the development of mass environmental awareness in Indonesia by strengthening the education for sustainability program in schools. The education for sustainability program encourages behavior change to create a more sustainable future. As Ban Ki Moon said, tomorrow, students are going to be the leaders. Teachers play an important role in shifting the students’ behavior. If we can provide teachers with practical professional development on education for sustainability, we will be able to accelerate and achieve the goals of education for sustainable development.

Launched after being awarded YSEALI Seeds for the Future Grants 2020, Teach4Future provides a platform where Indonesian teachers can learn and connect with Education for Sustainability experts and practitioners to provide them with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to infuse sustainability into the curriculum. They will emerge with innovative teaching resources and strategies to create meaningful instructions. As a result, teachers will be able to help future leaders become nature guardians and empower them to create a better, more sustainable future for the school and community.

Our objectives are to build teachers’ awareness on local to global sustainability and environmental issues; assist in teachers’ readiness to implement sustainable curriculum and instructions in urban areas; accelerate the implementation of education for sustainable development in Indonesia; establish a network of eco-conscious educators across Indonesia; and provide accessible curriculum on education for sustainability implementation.

In 2020, Teach4Future began with the Education for Sustainability Academy, a five-day virtual training program that engaged 20 teachers from 10 schools across Indonesia. These teachers received seed funding to implement sustainability projects in their schools, creating meaningful local impacts.

We expanded in 2021 by collaborating with @America to host the Ecosystem Restoration through Education Workshop, bringing together experts and educators to tackle environmental challenges through education.

In 2023, Teach4Future achieved a new milestone by implementing the Borneo Education for Sustainability Training (BEST) in Balikpapan, supported by the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund. This program trained 30 teachers from 15 schools across Kalimantan, equipping them to integrate sustainability into their classrooms and lead impactful projects with their students.

Today, Teach4Future is on a brief hiatus as we reflect on our journey and plan for future initiatives. Our mission to empower Indonesian educators and promote sustainability continues to drive us forward.