Amidst the bustle of advocacy work, community empowerment, and the ongoing struggle to safeguard civic space, one weekend in Bali felt different for civil society leaders and grassroots communities. There were no formal agendas, no piles of presentations. Instead, the space was designed as a pause — a chance to breathe, reconnect with oneself and with others, listen deeply, and speak heart to heart.
This was the essence of the Immersive Weekend Dialogues organized by Linkara between May and August 2025. Over three gatherings, 36 leaders from diverse backgrounds, fields, and regions of Indonesia came together to reflect and exchange. Each dialogue focused on a different group: senior leaders, women leaders, and grassroots as well as young leaders. With only 12 participants in each group, the conversations grew intimate and profound, while still rich in diversity of perspectives.
(The women leaders’ group discussion during the Immersive Weekend Dialogue in June 2025 in Tabanan, Bali)
The purpose of these three dialogues was to offer leaders a rare space to reflect on their journeys, to reconnect with themselves and each other, and to refresh their energy to keep moving forward. There was no pressure to “get things done,” but rather an invitation to be present, to share, and to listen.
Many participants admitted that the atmosphere felt truly different. They could set aside their formal identities, no longer needing to represent their organizations, and it was precisely in that freedom that genuine solidarity emerged. Conversations flowed, laughter surfaced, and even silence became part of the process.
From these honest and in-depth exchanges, a new picture of the future of civil society leadership in Indonesia began to emerge. One of the strongest themes was the need to move away from old models that concentrated authority in one place, toward more collective forms of leadership — where roles, power, and influence are shared more equitably.
The issue of regeneration surfaced repeatedly. Participants recognized the importance of preparing healthy transitions, ensuring that knowledge and wisdom can be passed on, while also creating space for the next generation to step in without repeating the same cycles of exhaustion.
At the same time, courage was acknowledged as essential, but not in isolation. Leaders reflected on how courage must walk hand in hand with vulnerability, empathy, and care. Strategic leadership, they noted, must remain deeply human — balanced between personal well-being and social responsibility.
(Senior leaders together with the facilitators engaged in a circle discussion, a hallmark of every Linkara Immersive Dialogue, in May 2025, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali)
There was also a growing awareness that leadership cannot be confined to organizational boundaries. Many emphasized the importance of building solidarity across movements, creating natural synergy, and adopting a systemic perspective so that change can have greater impact.
For women leaders, the conversations brought an additional, very specific layer. They highlighted how gender roles still carry structural challenges that cannot be ignored. From this came the recognition of the need for stronger support systems, safe spaces to lean on one another, and new ways for women’s leadership to flourish without constantly having to push against cultural burdens.
Together, these reflections formed a mosaic of new leadership discourse: more collective, more sustainable, courageous yet empathetic, and more open to diverse voices.
One of the most memorable insights was the realization that slowing down can be a source of strength. When leaders gave themselves permission to rest, breathe, and even embrace joy, new energy emerged. Many acknowledged that in the often demanding and exhausting world of civil society and grassroots work, spaces like this are not just refreshing — they are essential.
These three immersive weekends were not an ending, but the beginning of a longer journey. Linkara believes that the future of leadership requires a new language: one that is more collaborative, more willing to experiment, and deeply rooted in empathy and solidarity.
(Grassroots and young leaders discussing the future leadership model in August 2025 in Tabanan, Bali)
And sometimes, big change begins with something simple — with a group of people brave enough to pause, to truly listen to one another, and to glimpse a new path they can walk together.
*(Luh Putu Kusuma Ririen)
