Manggarai district sits in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, where agriculture plays a central role in the regional economy. The sector employs thousands of young farmers, yet women comprise a relatively small percentage of that workforce. A recent report from researchers at Indonesia’s Center for Social Analysis found that only 11% of primary farmers in Indonesia are women.

Meanwhile, although Manggarai is recognized nationally as an important rice-producing region, conventional farming methods have degraded soil quality for decades.

These twin problems—environmental damage and gender disparity—rarely receive joint solutions.

RYTHM Foundation, the social impact arm of QI Group, has launched a climate-smart agriculture program aimed at addressing social and environmental issues in the region. Partnering with Plan International Indonesia, its Green Skills Project is training 200 young farmers in Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) principles. Women make up 60% of participants.

The program targets both environmental damage from conventional farming practices and the negative economic and social impacts of the region's gender imbalance in agricultural work.

Training Built Around Local Realities

CSA differs from organic farming or simple sustainable practices. The method integrates weather pattern analysis, soil conservation techniques, water management systems, and crop rotation strategies. It involves practices like reading climate data, adjusting planting schedules based on rainfall predictions, and selecting crop varieties that withstand temperature fluctuations.

To train young Indonesians in CSA principles, the Green Skills Project program runs through village-based vocational training rather than distant agricultural colleges. The model recognizes that many rural women may have difficulties leaving their communities for extended education but can attend local training sessions.

The Green Project is also targeting youth unemployment in the region. Young farmers in Manggarai often wait until their 40s or 50s before inheriting land. During these years, many leave for non-agricultural work and education, but struggle to find work after graduating even amid economic demand for agricultural output. The Green Skills Project addresses this reality by teaching techniques young farmers can implement on existing farms.

Herybertus Geradus Laju Nabit, the Regent of Manggarai, noted how the initiative aligned with broader government priorities.

“The government is encouraging ecological agriculture using household yards for food production. This approach reduces household expenses and creates employment for youth, especially women,” he said.

QI Group Company Culture and RYTHM

QI Group, the multinational conglomerate behind RYTHM foundation, channels 10% of annual revenues to the foundation rather than treating philanthropy as discretionary spending. The company’s employees have contributed more than 125,000 hours to community service since 2013.

RYTHM is named after the QI’s philosophy of Raise Yourself To Help Mankind, derived from Mahatma Gandhi's teaching that individuals strengthen communities most effectively after developing their own capabilities. The Green Skills Project embodies this principle: participants gain agricultural expertise that improves their economic position while addressing regional environmental degradation.

Replicating Models Across Geographies

The Manggarai project is part of a broader RYTHM Foundation approach to bridging gender gaps and supporting youth development. The Maharani Programme in Malaysia mentors girls from underserved communities through academic support and skills development. Programs in Malaysia's Pahang and Sabah states provide educational resources to indigenous communities.

The foundation operates through partnerships with more than 100 grassroots organizations across 30 cities in Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and sub-Saharan Africa. It structures projects around three focus areas: education access for children in remote communities, skills training and economic opportunities for young women, and rural community development promoting self-sustainability.

These priorities align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those addressing quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities. In 2025, QI Group submitted its Communication on Progress report to the UN Global Compact, reaffirming commitments to responsible business practices across its operations.

The Green Skills Project in Manggarai represents one implementation of this framework. Success here could inform similar programs in other agricultural regions where climate change threatens traditional farming methods and where women remain underrepresented in primary economic sectors. The model's emphasis on local training centers and practical skills transfer makes it potentially adaptable to different crops, climates, and cultural contexts.

For the RYTHM foundation, the key remains providing support for a young generation focused on connecting sustainability and economic viability. The Head of RYTHM Foundation, Santhi Periasamy, emphasized the importance of giving young people, especially women, the tools to transform their communities.

“Youth have the energy, creativity, and drive to shape a more sustainable future,” she said.