​Community empowerment is a powerful way to tackle social issues such as poverty, unemployment, education lack, inequality, and even criminality. Community empowerment can increase individual skills, enhance local potentials, and ultimately create communities' resilience and sustainability, be it culturally, economically, or politically.

Among the Top 20 Finalists of YCSE Academy 2.0, there are seven finalists who focus on empowering communities in their surroundings. Let's get to know them!

1. Gumi Bamboo
Aspired to both empower women and preserve the environment, #GumiBamboo is a social enterprise in Lombok NTB that employs local women to make daily products from bamboo. Not only employment to make them economically independent, the enterprise also provides the women with education and trainings so that they can also be key members of their communities. Vote them for Top 10 Finalists of YCSE Academy 2.0 through this link https://www.campaign.com/updates/id/-M-4VsPLq41g6bsol6K8

2. Kampung Marketer
#KampungMarketer is located in Purbalingga, Central Java. This is a social enterprise that aims to empower local youth by giving them education on technology and digital marketing. The enterprise hopes to expand their business and social impact. Thus, they need your support. Vote them for Top 10 Finalists of YCSE Academy 2.0 through this link https://www.campaign.com/updates/id/-M-4NxXVcH64BpFzPMlv

3. MALA Ecotours
Sustainable tourism is on the rise! The amazing nature and beautiful culture of East Nusa Tenggara has inspired #MalaEcoTours to make it a good deal for the local communities. The enterprise involve local communities to make together, a sustainable tourism business that doesn't harm the nature and benefits local communities. If you are into sustainable tourism, vote them for Top 10 Finalists of YCSE Academy 2.0 through this link https://www.campaign.com/updates/id/-M-4_9OxdBQiTz6SUy4J

4. Menganyam Pesisir
Indonesia is a maritime country with lots of marine potentials. But did you know that those potentials can be found not only below the sea but also in the surrounding coastal? One of them is pandan laut leaves and that is what #MenganyamPesisirWomenEmpowerment is doing with. The enterprise tries to empower women in coastal area in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, by giving them trainings and employment to make crafts from pandan laut leaves which are eco-friendly. Their products range from bags to small accessories. To vote them for Top 10 Finalists of YCSE Academy 2.0, clink this link https://www.campaign.com/updates/id/-M-4vinbty2ppGChSlKU

5. Nichoa Chocolate
What do you think is the world's most popular snack? We are quite sure the answer is chocolate! Not only delicious, chocolate is packed with nutrients that are good for our health, only if it is processed in the right way. With campaign #HealthyChocalteCulture, Nichoa Chocolate aims to educate people about how to eat chocolate the right way. More interestingly, they aims to empower chocolate farmers in their surroundings and support sustainable production. Are you a chocolate lover? Vote Nichoa Chocolate for Top 10 Finalists of YCSE Academy 2.0 through this link https://www.campaign.com/updates/id/-M-5-QpHc-ktEO0iq9Du

6. Tinung Rambu
Local wisdoms never betray! #tinungrambu understands how local wisdoms can transform the lives of the local communities. Inspired by the weaving tradition of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), the enterprise involves the local women to preserve this tradition, while at the same time empowers them to be economically independent. They produce fashion items from woven materials. If you too, believe in the power of local wisdoms, vote Tinung Rambu for Top 10 Finalists of YCSE Academy 2.0 through this link https://www.campaign.com/updates/id/-M-4q82HGqthU651mi_f

7. Unifarm Indonesia
Can you imagine how our life would be without the existence of farmers? Concerned about the lives of farmers, #unifarmindonesia aims to increase the prosperity of farmers through its platform; a digital financial platform focusing on funding agriculture capital through crowdfunding. The enterprise positions itself as a bridge between farmers and investors. Vote them for more prosperous Indonesian farmers! Click this link https://www.campaign.com/updates/id/-M-4hwo4nPZQfOv9Md0e

The public voting will be closed today at 12. So hurry up! Vote for your favourite finalists now! Your vote matters.

Pic: globalgiving.org