Description

Melati Wijsen is an activist and a change-maker who is the Founder of YOUTHTOPIA, an organization that focuses on providing the tools needed for young people to be change-makers. Before YOUTHTOPIA, Melati Co-Founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags with her sister Isabel. Since starting Bye Bye Plastic Bags, both have started using their voice to inspire young people to find their voice and speak to older generations about the ideas that future generations can implement in this world.

Melati was born in Indonesia and grew up with the concept of there is something bigger than oneself. This inspired her to find ways to give back and help out communities. Melati started her change-making  journey when she was 12 years old. She founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags where the goal was to ban plastic bags in Bali. She worked on this with her younger sister Isabel and with the support of other people, were able to accomplish this goal. Her work with Bye Bye Plastic Bags allowed her to speak in events such as TED & The United Nations. She also had her film Bigger Than Us which was released in 2021 which documents her journey meeting other young activists around the world. A year before her film, Melati founded YOUTHTOPIA in order to inspire young people to create change in their communities. Now at 23, Melati continues to educate young people about the power they have regardless of who they are or where they come from. While Melati has had challenges in activism for the past 11 years, she has also had to overcome personal challenges such as burnouts due to the amount of work being put in. Looking after her well-being first is critical to Melati in order to continue on in the change-making journey.

In this conversation, you will learn:

• The pressure Melati puts on herself when representing young women from Indonesia
• Melati’s views on being unselfish
• Why Melati emphasizes the importance of teamwork and connections rather than competing with one another.
• Fears Melati has overcome in the past
• Challenges Melati is grateful for
• Melati’s views on the balance of being kind and being strong.

If you want to follow “Oh My Curry Goodness,” subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the podcast on YouTube as well. Be sure to also follow the podcast on Instagram @theomcgpodcast for more information on guests, preview clips, and more! 

If you want to follow Melati Wijsen, be sure to follow her on Instagram @melatiwijsen as well as YOUTHTOPIA @youthtopia.world.

You can also check out Melati’s and YOUTHTOPIA’s website as well:

Personal: https://melatiwijsen.com

YOUTHTOPIA: https://www.youthtopia.world/