Our Story
From ten young Acehnese with nothing but conviction, to a youth-led movement now reaching communities across Indonesia.
27 December 2012
On 27 December 2012, ten young people from Aceh, each carrying a different background, talent and interest, came together to found The Leader. None of them arrived with money, connections or an established name, only a shared, stubborn will to do something good for a province whose recent history carried real weight. Aceh had endured decades of armed conflict, then, in 2004, one of the most devastating tsunamis in living memory, and even after the peace agreement was signed, many young people had already lived through significant terror and isolation, cut off from much of the outside world.
Our focus from the start was on creating positive change through young people, starting at the community level and reaching outward towards the global stage, and over the years that focus has taken shape across seven areas: youth development, collaborative leadership, peace and conflict resolution, digital storytelling, capacity-building, health workforce strengthening, and adolescent health, each one grown out of a real need we saw in front of us rather than a plan drawn up in a boardroom.
"We do not want to be remembered only as victims of what happened to us. We want to be known as survivors, and as a resource — first for Aceh, and now for the whole of Indonesia."
What began in Aceh has since grown beyond it. The Leader's work now reaches communities across Indonesia, carrying the same ambition that started this all: to help young people actualise their true potential and pursue their dreams, wherever they are.
Where It All Started
Co-Founders
The Leader was established by ten young Acehnese who brought together very different corners of the province's talent: Muhammad Fathun, Hijrah Saputra, Salwiyadi, Rizka Nadya, Mifta Sugesty, Ramadhan, Muhammad Parwis, Muhammad Syauqi, Tiara Fatimah and Yuli Khairani. Between them sat doctors, entrepreneurs, tourism activists, broadcasters and students, ten people who might never have crossed paths outside of a shared conviction that Aceh's youth deserved better than the isolation they had grown up in.
This was the background The Leader was built on, and it shaped a belief the founders held from day one: that young people, given the chance, are capable of leading. That belief is why, every two to three years, The Leader selects ten new young people to carry the organisation forward, a cycle that keeps it what it has always been, a youth-led organisation, from youth to youth.
Governance
Board of Directors
Our active and highly diverse Board of Directors is substantially engaged in The Leader's strategic direction, programme planning and outcomes.
Muhammad Fathun
Muhammad Fathun is a public health practitioner and youth development advocate, currently serving as a Technical Consultant at WHO Indonesia with extensive experience in public health, leadership development, and community engagement.
Hijrah Saputra
Hijrah Saputra is an entrepreneur and the founder of Piyoh Enterprise, with a passion for innovation, business development, and empowering local communities. He is currently based in Japan.
Salwiyadi
Salwiyadi is an internist, health management consultant, and healthcare entrepreneur. As the founder of Wiva Medika Clinic, he is committed to improving access to quality healthcare services and advancing effective health system management.
Mifta Sugesty
Mifta Sugesty is a Clinical Psychologist specialising in trauma-care, cross-cultural adjustment in children, as well as critical psychology, with a commitment to promote mental-health, particularly in marginalised groups such as women and children.
Rizka Nadya
Rizka Nadya is an entrepreneur and the founder of ZR Wedding Planner, bringing expertise in business management, creativity, and client-centred service.
Ichwan
Ichwan is an economic and community empowerment enthusiast, lecturer, and consultant in economics and entrepreneurship, and the founder of KIAT Advisory.
Ramadhan
Ramadhan is a social activist and civil servant with the Lhokseumawe Government, dedicated to community development and civic engagement as the founder of JINOE Foundation.
Team Members
Meet Our Team in 2027. Behind every impact is a team of passionate changemakers. Our team profiles will be launched in 2027. Stay tuned.
