Desa Sejahtera Astra Les Village Thrives Through Nature Conservation, Cultural Preservation, and Community Empowerment

BULELENG, BALI: As tourism and modernization accelerate, Desa Sejahtera Astra Les Village in North Bali demonstrates that rural development can align with cultural and environmental preservation. Through the Desa Sejahtera Astra program, the village has developed into a community-based tourism destination that upholds its local identity and environmental sustainability.

Desa Sejahtera Astra Les Village is a coastal community with diverse landscapes, including green hills, fertile plains, and a productive coastline used for farming, fishing, and traditional salt production. The village offers significant natural and cultural tourism opportunities, such as coastal attractions, waterfall visits, and community-based activities that promote sustainable tourism.

Since joining the Desa Sejahtera Astra program in 2024, the village has implemented initiatives across Astra's four pillars: education, health, environment, and entrepreneurship. These efforts have benefited over 800 residents, increased incomes by 25%, created new jobs, and achieved full market absorption of local products.

"Through Desa Sejahtera Astra, we believe village development should balance economic growth, environmental conservation, and cultural identity. Astra hopes this collaboration will not only drive economic progress but also sustain environmental and cultural values, ensuring lasting benefits for Indonesia now and in the future," said Astra Chief of Corporate Affairs Boy Kelana Soebroto.

In health, villagers and volunteers support maternal and child well-being through Posyandu activities, pregnancy education, and regular supplementary feeding for children affected by stunting and malnutrition. In education, youth are encouraged to explore the village's potential through English classes and tourism training, preparing them as local guides for international visitors. The nature classroom program, involving 15 students from elementary to vocational schools, has increased their confidence in using English in daily life.

In environmental efforts, the community of Desa Sejahtera Astra Les Village engages in coral reef conservation, waste management, and compost production to support coastal sustainability. The Les Grow program educates residents on household-level waste sorting. Leaf waste is processed into compost for the village's integrated garden, which is managed by the Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST), and some produce is sold locally to generate additional income.

In entrepreneurship, the community preserves its traditional salt-making heritage, producing two to three tons of salt per harvest using natural methods. This salt is distributed across Indonesia. Development is further supported by partnerships with BUMDes Giri Segara to market village products and grow local SMEs. Collaboration with the Provincial Government of Bali has resulted in monthly salt orders of about 1 ton, or IDR 25 million, showing how local traditions can become sustainable economic opportunities.

These community-based, sustainability-focused initiatives led Desa Sejahtera Astra Les Village to win the Overall Champion title at the Anugerah Desa Wisata Indonesia (ADWI) 2024, presented by the Ministry of Tourism.

Astra's collaboration with communities like Desa Sejahtera Astra Les Village aligns with the company's goal to prosper with the nation and support Indonesia's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ALSO READ: From Logging to Ecotourism Guiding: The Story of Ritno Kurniawan, the Driving Force Behind Desa Sejahtera Astra Nyarai

 

For further information, please contact:
Windy Riswantyo
Head of Corporate Communications
PT Astra International Tbk
Phone. 021-508-43-888

 

About Astra:
Astra is one of Indonesia's largest public companies, comprising 322 subsidiaries, joint ventures, and associated entities, supported by more than 190,000 employees. The company's diversified business model creates synergies and opportunities across multiple industries, including Automotive, Financial Services, Heavy Equipment and Mining Solutions, and other sectors.
Astra has a sustainability framework that includes the Astra 2030 Sustainability Aspirations, which guide the Astra Group's transition toward becoming a more sustainable company by 2030 and beyond. Astra aspires to strengthen Indonesia's economic resilience in support of an inclusive and prosperous society.
Astra's sustainable social contributions are centered on developing and strengthening villages through the Desa Sejahtera Astra program, which has reached more than 1,500 Desa Sejahtera Astra sites across 35 provinces in Indonesia. The program covers four main areas, including health, education, environment, and entrepreneurship, supported by nine foundations that contribute to Indonesia's economic growth while advancing an inclusive and prosperous society.
In line with the Desa Sejahtera Astra program, the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards was established to recognize young innovators as well as the best Desa Sejahtera Astra communities and village champions mentored by Astra. Since its launch in 2010, the SATU Indonesia Awards has honored 792 young Indonesians who actively collaborate with Desa Sejahtera Astra.
For more information, visit astra.co.id, and follow Astra's activities on Instagram @satu_indonesia, TikTok @satu_indonesia, YouTube SATU Indonesia, X (Twitter) @satu_indonesia, LinkedIn PT Astra International Tbk, and Facebook Semangat Astra Terpadu.