On April 16-17, 2025, Ecology Foundation (YEKR) had the opportunity to accompany  the Sekolah Alam Indonesi in  the Young Explorer 2025 activity  with the theme "Exploring Wonderful Culture & Nature of Riau Island". The activity, which was attended by 44 students and 5 teachers from South Jakarta, was designed to invite the younger generation to get to know the natural and cultural potential of the Riau Islands while fostering awareness of the importance of protecting the environment

On the first day, the journey started to Dugong Beach, Malang Rapat – Bintan. Since their arrival, the students seemed enthusiastic about following the directions from the teacher to carry out beach clean-up actions. The waste collected is quite diverse, ranging from single-use plastics, used fishermen's nets, glass bottles, to drink cans. After collection, participants were taught how to sort and record waste according to its type and brand. This process provides a real learning experience for students, as they not only pick up trash but also understand the consumption patterns that are the source of the problem of marine pollution. This activity is a space for reflection that human daily habits have a great impact on coastal ecosystems and marine life.

On the second day, the group continued its activities in Tanjungpinang City. The first agenda was a visit to the Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alamsyah Museum, where participants had the opportunity to get to know the history, culture, and long journey of the Tanjungpinang people from time to time. Through the explanation at the museum, the students were invited to understand that natural and cultural resources are closely related in shaping the identity of an area. After the activity at the museum, participants went directly to the public space to carry out a campaign to reduce plastic waste. They spread environmentally friendly messages in  the Sri Bintan Pura Port and Tanjungpinang Market areas, interacting directly with the community who are doing activities. With a simple but touching approach, the students reminded residents about the dangers of single-use plastics and invited them to use more environmentally friendly alternatives. The response from the community is quite positive; Many welcome with smiles, respond to invitations, and even share stories about their daily habits.

This activity was closed with  a simple ceremony and  the handing over of souvenirs to the Riau Islands Ecology Foundation as a sign of appreciation as well as a symbol of cooperation that is expected to continue in the future. The closing atmosphere was warm, full of a sense of togetherness, and left a deep impression on all participants. Through this program, YEKR wants to emphasize that the involvement of the younger generation in environmental action is not only useful to increase knowledge, but also a valuable investment in maintaining the sustainability of local ecosystems and culture.

The Young Explorer 2025 activity  is not only an educational tourism trip, but also a tangible form of cross-regional collaboration that is able to strengthen the spirit of protecting the earth. It is hoped that this momentum will be the beginning of larger follow-up programs, so that more young people are inspired to contribute to environmental conservation.