A Better World

Get to know the five newly announced laureates of the 2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise, whose projects aim to improve lives and protect the planet for future generations

- Annabel Tan

When Denica Riadini‑Flesch left her native Indonesia to pursue an education as a development economist in the Netherlands, she “felt guilty, knowing it’s not an opportunity most women in Indonesia have”. She later returned to her homeland, where her work on poverty alleviation and community developments in rural Indonesia brought her face‑to‑face with social and environmental issues through the people living there.

She was inspired to change things; to create impact and contribute to her country. In 2016, Riadini‑Flesch established SukkhaCitta, described as an ethical “farm to closet” social enterprise that sells high‑quality, traditionally crafted clothing made with natural dyes obtained through regenerative farming and zero‑waste practices.

Indonesia is a major player in the global clothing industry and yet, less than 2 per cent of its female‑dominated garment and textile workforce receive a fair wage. Riadini‑Flesch hopes to change this with SukkhaCitta, which pays craftswomen and smallholder farmers a fair wage and directly connects them with the global market through online sales as well as physical retailers. The success of this model is evident in the remarkable 60 per cent average increase in earnings experienced by women working with SukkhaCitta, which often leads to a dramatic shift in the gender roles within their communities. Financial empowerment is incredibly important for women in rural communities, as it means they are able to increasingly take charge of their household’s finances, which consequently improves the nutrition and education of the village’s children, especially girls, and is a cornerstone for continued sustainable development.