No Ayu Matoneng's concerns were sparked by the environmental damage caused by the growing tourism industry in Alor. She observed that tourist areas often suffer from waste issues and unsustainable infrastructure development projects that end up abandoned. "Not to mention the actions of young people who forcefully adopt tourism techniques from Java to Alor, ultimately damaging the natural side of Alor," she said. No Ayu, as she is commonly called, witnessed the exploitation of nature without direct benefits for indigenous communities, which led her to switch gears from being a tour guide to becoming an environmental activist.
No Ayu is also one of the founders of Balenta Community, which focuses on empowering women and children. More recently, she started a new community called Trash Hero Alor, an initiative dedicated to beach clean-ups and environmental education in Alor that aligns with her mission in promoting sustainable tourism. Through her campaign, No Ayu and her community aim to target the younger generation, encouraging them to take action and collaborate to influence policies that support sustainable tourism.
Support No Ayu's Petition: Sahkan PERDA Pengelolaan Sampah di Alor
