How Chevening alumni are connecting a network in Indonesia  

With around 2,000 members across Indonesia, the Chevening Alumni Association of Indonesia (CAAI) brings together alumni from diverse sectors, professions and regions. The network creates opportunities for alumni to exchange knowledge, build relationships, and use the experience and networks gained through Chevening to contribute to Indonesian society. 

In a country as geographically diverse as Indonesia, keeping such a large community connected is a challenge. CAAI’s regional chapter provide local points of connection, while its digital channels help alumni stay informed and engaged regardless of where they are based.  

Their aim is to create a community where alumni feel connected, valued, and able to contribute.  

‘Alumni should feel that participating in the association is not only meaningful, but also enjoyable. A strong association is not defined by the number of events it organises, but by the quality of relationships and opportunities it creates for its members.’  

From alumni network to community action  

Following floods and landslides in Sumatra, CAAI used its alumni connections and partnerships to launch a fundraising campaign that raised nearly IDR 100 million. More recently, it mobilised support for communities affected by disasters in East Nusa Tenggara, working with other university alumni association, Kitabisa, and humanitarian partners to help meet needs including food, medicine, healthcare, and evacuation centres.  

But the association’s impact is not limited to emergency response. Through ChevBuddy, its official mentoring programme, alumni help Indonesians to take steps towards the possibility of studying abroad.  

For CAAI, mentoring is about ‘helping Indonesians, particularly those who have never considered studying abroad as a realistic option, take one step closer and dare to dream about it.’  

The association also places emphasis on inclusivity, ensuring marginalised communities and people with additional needs are supported. 

Partnerships that open doors  

Collaboration has been central to extending this impact. In partnership with the Cheshire Foundation, CAAI delivered an inclusive Chevening information session for more than 40 participants with disabilities. The Foundation brought its established connections within the disability community, while CAAI contributed alumni speakers, including new alumni with disabilities, and the ChevBuddy mentoring pathway.  

‘The right partner can open doors to new communities, bring complementary expertise and resources, and help an alumni association turn an idea into something that reaches further and has greater impact.’  

They have also applied the same approach to professional development, working with Tech Connect from Sinarmas Group to connect participants with employment opportunities. 

Investing in the future  

With support from the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF), CAAI is now building on this foundation through its Road to Temu Raya programme, culminating in the Temu Raya Festival in February 2027. Rather than treating the gathering as a single event, the programme brings together career development, mentorship, the SEA Forum, and opportunities for alumni to share their expertise and networks.  

Looking ahead 

CAAI hopes to establish more regional chapters, particularly outside Java, so that alumni across Indonesia can participate in and contribute to the association’s activities. At the regional level, it also hopes to contribute to the establishment of an ASEAN Chevening alumni network, creating stronger connections and opportunities for collaboration across Southeast Asia.  

Their vision is to continue building a network where alumni support one another, open doors for others, and use their collective experience to respond to the needs of their communities and country.