Atlas Corps celebrates its 15th anniversary! It is time to celebrate the achievements of our amazing network of over 1,100 leaders from 110 countries and share stories on the global impact of our Alumni, Fellows, and Scholars.
Today we speak with Atlas Corps Scholar Andi (Cohort 7, Indonesia) from our inaugural cohort of the Atlas Corps x @america: Indonesian Public Sector Leadership Initiative. Andi and his team focus on working with mental health issues and providing inclusion in Indonesia without the stigma, taboo, and discrimination.
Thank you, Andi, for your work on sharing knowledge and information about mental health topics and supporting communities and youth in Indonesia. We appreciate learning about your impact and your personal and professional growth. We wish you the best with this impactful work!
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Name: Sepri Andi Home Country: Indonesia Current Organization: Social Connect Role at current organization: Founder Social Issues that you have worked with: Good health and well-being |
Tell us about projects you have worked on?
I’m a Founder of Social Connect, a community-based organization that focuses on Indonesia’s mental health issues. Our team of volunteers and I are working towards an inclusive Indonesia. We have a vision that everyone can talk openly about mental topics without being afraid of the stigma, taboo, and discrimination one day.
Social Connect is regularly running a social campaign about mental health, and we have been reached about 3 million youth on Instagram since 2019. We are currently promoting knowledge and information about mental health accessible everywhere served in Bahasa, Indonesia and easy to understand for everyone. We also want to work with schools across Indonesia to educate our teenagers about mental health issues.
Why is it important for you to work with empowering women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics?
Mental health and youth leadership are those two issues that are very close to my heart. I was a survivor of mental health, and many times in life, I feel alone, not supported, and not good enough. This condition often happens when I joined a university organization. I am constantly being judged, left, and dismissed because of my mental issues and emotional unsuitability.
In 2018 when significant insomnia hits my life, I start to look for help. I started a group conversation that ends up being one of the leading mental health communities today. Social Connect was founded because of my struggle in finding support for mental health, and at the same time, as young people, you need to be supported no matter who you are!
How has Atlas Corps contributed to your professional and personal accomplishments?
Atlas Corps help strengthens the flame of my dream to build Social Connect further. I start to believe again that there is still hope to develop myself and Social Connect through this kind of program. Atlas Corps presented me with a lot of learning that is very useful. I am amazed by how creative this online course craft and challenge us in so many ways to keep upgrading ourselves. Thank you for shift the way I looked at myself and my project. Thank you so much for working so hard preparing materials, arranging sessions, reviewing our submission, and many more to all fantastic souls and individuals in the Atlas Corps Team. Thank you for working in this cause to help young people like me believe that there is a place I can call home other than my own!
What is your favorite Atlas Corps memory?
One of the most favorite activities in Atlas Corps is a discussion with other Scholars. I find people who have a similar struggle on building their project or even someone with the same mental health problem. This network of Scholars helps me connect with many institutions in Indonesia and beyond! I used to have new friends and exchange stories throughout the program.
What advice do you have for applicants and current Scholars?
Atlas Corps is a global community of talented individuals. Please used your time to get to know as many people as possible. Hopefully, after the program, you took something to brings home to change your project and make a difference in your community! Enjoy all the learning processes because I find this one of the robust online learning systems.
On November 20, Atlas Corps celebrates 15 years of engaging social change leaders. Join us to honor our legacy of service with more than 1,100 leaders from 110 countries at the Atlas Corps 15-Year Anniversary Gala. We will convene friends of Atlas Corps from all sectors and regions of the world to reflect on 15 years of engaging social changemakers and inspire towards our future. Join to connect with our community, meet Fellows, and celebrate Atlas Corps!
Photos from the personal archive of Sepri Andi
