Sumba Cendekia Bestari Foundation is a Sumba-based non-formal education organization founded by online educator and trainer, Andre Maure. Established in 2020, the organization is committed to supporting and empowering Sumbanese teenagers and young adults through inclusive, gender-responsive education, skills development, and lifelong learning initiatives.

Sumba Cendekia began its journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, launching its first online English learning session via Zoom on June 10th, 2020. At a time when schools across Sumba were closed and universities throughout Indonesia had shifted to remote learning, the initiative provided a critical platform for young people to continue developing their English skills. What started as a response to a crisis quickly evolved into a growing learning community, attracting participants not only from Sumba but also from Kupang, Bali, Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan.

With the support of local volunteers and community networks, Sumba Cendekia has since conducted regular virtual and in-person programs. These initiatives go beyond English literacy, offering opportunities for participants to strengthen leadership, public speaking, and soft skills in a collaborative and supportive environment. In early 2022, the organization expanded its engagement through in-person gatherings in Waikabubak, known as Sumba Cendekia’s Afternoon Tea, creating a fun and interactive space for local youth to learn and practice English together.

Over time, Sumba Cendekia Bestari has broadened its scope to advance equitable access to education and economic opportunities, particularly for youth, women, and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities. Its programs now include English literacy, digital literacy, and soft skills training delivered both online and offline. These efforts contribute to inclusive economic growth, gender equality, and increased participation of underrepresented communities in local development.

The organization has built a strong track record in inclusive program delivery and community-based engagement. Through initiatives such as virtual learning platforms, English forums, and youth engagement activities, Sumba Cendekia has reached participants from diverse geographic and socio-economic backgrounds. In partnership with Save the Children Indonesia through the Inclusive Incubator for Young Changemakers (i2Change), it has supported youth-led innovation and social action, strengthening leadership, civic engagement, and community-driven solutions. 

In advancing digital inclusion, Sumba Cendekia implements the Skills for Inclusive Digital Participation (SIDP) program, supported by the British Council. The organization leads program design, recruitment, training delivery, as well as monitoring and evaluation. The program prioritizes youth, women, and persons with disabilities, equipping them with essential digital skills, promoting safe and responsible online engagement, and expanding access to information, services, and livelihood opportunities in the digital economy. Prior to that, from March to December 2024, Sumba Cendekia Bestari successfully completed the Child Proection Campaign Project focusing on ending the Child, Early, and Forced Marriage in Southwest Sumba. 

Since 2025, Sumba Cendekia has further strengthened its evidence-based approach through its research arm, CREDOS. Through this initiative, the organization contributes to KONEKSI-funded research on sustainable livelihoods and coastal conservation in West and Central Sumba, in collaboration with The Australian National University and the University of Tasmania. This work is supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Indonesia’s Ministry of Education. In 2026, Sumba Cendekia also partnered with Nusa Cendana University to conduct action research on financial and digital literacy within the women-led weaving sector, supporting climate-sensitive livelihoods, women’s economic empowerment, and the preservation of local knowledge.

Through these integrated efforts, Sumba Cendekia Bestari demonstrates strong capacity to design and implement inclusive, locally grounded, and data-driven programs. Its work continues to advance gender equality, inclusive governance, climate resilience, and sustainable economic opportunities for vulnerable communities across Sumba, while nurturing a new generation of empowered, skilled, and socially engaged young leaders.