Celebrating International Women’s Day, Nuanu Social Fund Highlights Women Behind Community Initiatives in Bali

As a creative ecosystem that brings together art, innovation, and social impact, Nuanu Creative City continues to foster a platform for initiatives emerging from the community. This commitment is realized through the Nuanu Social Fund (NSF), a platform that supports social and cultural programs driven by individuals and local communities across Bali.

The momentum of International Women’s Day serves as a reminder that celebrating women goes beyond recognizing their achievements—it also means creating space for the ideas and initiatives they bring to society.

“The growth of an ecosystem is not solely measured by physical development, but by how ideas and initiatives from surrounding communities are able to flourish. We see many women leading change within their communities, and for Nuanu, it is important to ensure these ideas are given the space to grow and create a wider impact,” said Ida Ayu Astari Prada, Director of Brand and Communications at Nuanu.

From 2023 to 2025, the Nuanu Social Fund has supported 494 social initiatives, 51% of which are led by women as key drivers. These initiatives contribute to strengthening local communities while opening opportunities for women and youth in Tabanan and surrounding areas to engage in social, cultural, and educational activities.

Many of these initiatives stem from individuals responding to the needs of their immediate environment, ranging from creative learning spaces for students to activities that strengthen the community’s connection with local culture.

Creating Creative Spaces for the Younger Generation

One of the initiatives supported by the Nuanu Social Fund comes from Ida Ayu Agung Erlina, commonly known as Dayu, a teacher at SMPN 3 Kediri in Tabanan. She observed that many of her students have a strong interest in creative digital fields such as graphic design and animation, yet lack the space to develop these skills.

Building on this observation, Dayu, together with two fellow teachers, established SECRET (Sempatik Creative Team), a student-led creative team that serves as a platform for students to explore graphic design, comics, and animation.

“Many students actually have great potential in the creative field, but they need a space to experiment and develop their ideas. Through SECRET, we want to provide that opportunity,” said Dayu.

One of their first projects is a school comic titled I GLORY, which tells the story of junior high school characters representing the younger generation of Bali. Through this comic, students not only learn to build visual narratives, but also introduce elements of Balinese culture, from local cuisine to destinations in Beraban Village.

Preserving Cultural Heritage Through Learning Spaces

Another initiative comes from Wulan Asmitha, a Balinese dance practitioner who believes that cultural preservation does not only take place on stage, but also through learning spaces that are open to the community.

With the support of the Nuanu Social Fund, Wulan initiated a Balinese dance workshop that invites participants to learn the movements, meanings, and philosophy behind traditional Balinese dance. Through this initiative, she aims to create a space for the community—particularly younger generations—to reconnect with Balinese cultural heritage, not only as a performance, but as knowledge and practice that can be understood, learned, and passed on.

“Through this workshop, I want to show that Balinese dance does not belong only to performers on stage. It is part of everyday life and can be learned by anyone,” said Wulan.

The workshop is designed as an inclusive learning space, bringing together participants from diverse backgrounds and generations to experience the richness of Balinese culture firsthand.

Supporting Community-Driven Initiatives

The stories of Dayu and Wulan reflect how many community initiatives in Bali begin with individual care for their surroundings—whether through creative education for younger generations or efforts to preserve local cultural heritage.

“Many community leaders start from something very simple—from a concern for their surroundings or a desire to share the knowledge they have,” said Auditya Sari, Head of Nuanu Social Fund. “At Nuanu Social Fund, one of our visions is to support these community leaders so they have the opportunity to expand the impact they create. Seeing how small ideas from communities can grow and benefit many people is one of the most meaningful aspects of running this program.”

Through the Nuanu Social Fund, Nuanu remains committed to supporting community-driven initiatives, creating space for individuals to share knowledge, and opening opportunities for more people to grow together.

The stories of Dayu and Wulan demonstrate that when women are given the space and support to bring their ideas to life, the impact extends beyond direct beneficiaries, strengthening the broader social and cultural ecosystem around them.