Environment students create climate impact in Indonesia through FINCAPES project
By: Daynaka Belanger
A unique international partnership gives Waterloo co‑op students the chance to apply their skills to real‑world climate challenges on a global scale.
The Flood Impacts, Carbon Pricing and Ecosystem Sustainability (FINCAPES) project aims to address climate change, flood risks and biodiversity conservation in Indonesia. Launched in 2022, FINCAPES receives Government of Canada funding to support Indonesia’s transition to a climate‑resilient, low‑carbon economy while advancing gender equality, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.
FINCAPES is a five-and-a-half-year partnership between Indonesian universities, research institutes and the University of Waterloo’s faculties of Environment and Mathematics. Waterloo co-op students play key roles in advancing the project’s goals, working in research development, monitoring, policy and communications.
“Co-op students have proven to bring a lot of value to FINCAPES and our partners in Indonesia,” says Laura Wilson, Senior Project Officer of FINCAPES. “It’s exciting to see the new solutions co-op students come up with and how they collaborate with the Indonesian students and communities.”
A firsthand perspective on climate solutions
Jean Dugan, a third-year Urban Planning student, completed a co-op work term with FINCAPES as the Climate Finance Renewable Energy Research Analyst. In her role, she researched Indonesian carbon credits and the impact of geothermal energy on the country.
Working in Indonesia gave Dugan a meaningful sense of impact beyond academic research. She saw how being on the ground in Indonesia strengthened her understanding of her research work.
Dugan’s co-op experience not only deepened her understanding of climate finance and sustainability, but it also showcased how her research could contribute directly to addressing environmental challenges in Indonesia.
“I felt I could help make a change while having a super cool and unique experience,” Dugan says. “I enjoyed researching sustainable solutions through the carbon credit system while being able to provide research on geothermal plants and summarizing studies that directly impact the issues I was exposed to and saw in Indonesia.”
If we were trying to support Indonesia from Canada, we would not have that firsthand point of view of living in the environment we’re researching and trying to improve.
Connecting office work to in-the-field learning
Myana Benn spent her co-op work term as a Development Assistant for the Nature Based Solutions team in Indonesia. In her role, the second-year Geography and Environmental Management student’s responsibilities included writing proposals, concept notes and articles to help secure funding.
Benn especially appreciated the fieldwork component of her experience. “The office work was directly related to what we were working on in the field, which really helped with grasping the big picture,” Benn says.
Learning how peatlands and mangroves affect the environment ignited a passion that Benn explored on the job. “We went to Jambi and Lampung to do fieldwork. It was ideal for me to see these environments firsthand because I had been working on funding for these causes without seeing the impact in front of me,” Benn explains.
Finding connection in community
Rachel Arsovski, a fourth-year Geography and Environmental Management student, spent her co-op term working as a Research Analyst specializing in climate finance, renewable energy and communications. In this role, her responsibilities included creating summaries and accompanying social media posts of academic papers related to renewable energy and climate finance.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Arsovski deeply valued the opportunity to live and work in Indonesia because she developed cultural awareness and had the opportunity to experience daily life abroad.
“Every single day brought a new experience,” Arsovski says. “Lunch was provided to us and so I got to try a lot of new food. On Mondays we would wear a batik, which is an Indonesian traditional clothing. It was great to be so involved.”
Arsovski had a particularly meaningful experience during Ramadan. “The company I worked for hosted an Iftar event with three local orphanages,” Arsovski explains. “Even if we were not Muslim, we were invited and it was special to be able to partake in that event and witness everyone breaking their fast together.”
These experiences allowed Arsovski to gain a deeper understanding of Indonesian customs and community values. For her, the experience reinforced the importance of cultural exposure to help professional growth and awareness.
Opportunities for local work and global learning
FINCAPES offers co-op students the chance to gain firsthand field experience while immersing themselves in Indonesian culture. Through their experiences, the co-op students built real world understanding, cultural awareness and a deeper connection to the issues they supported through their work.
While FINCAPES directly benefits Indonesian communities and ecosystems, the experience also leaves a lasting impact on participating students. By pairing Waterloo co-op students with Indonesian students, the program fosters meaningful collaboration on sustainability challenges while building a strong sense of global community.
As Wilson continues to identify new opportunities for more Waterloo students to participate in the coming years, she notes that the strong performance of Waterloo students has demonstrated just how exceptional and impactful they can be at the global level.
For Waterloo co-op students interested in sustainability, global engagement or hands-on learning, FINCAPES offers the chance to be part of meaningful work while experiencing a new way of living and learning alongside others who share the same commitment.