On 29 August 2026, Mrs Anie Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Founder and Chairperson of the Wadah Foundation, celebrated her birthday in Bali with family, friends, partners and those who have been part of her life’s journey over the years.
In a warm and convivial atmosphere, the Celebration of Life 2026 served as a space to share joy whilst giving thanks for the journey travelled together. It was not merely a celebration of Mrs Anie’s birthday, but a celebration of the friendship, connections and care that had grown over the years.
With the theme ‘To Celebrate Friendship and Create Impact’, the Celebration of Life 2026 reflected how Mrs Anie views friendship: not merely a connection that brings people together, but a relationship that is nurtured over time, grows and ultimately creates something meaningful for others.
For Mrs Anie, the celebration of life is inseparable from the journey of dedication she has undertaken alongside the Wadah Foundation. What began as a concern for the well-being of grassroots communities has gradually grown into an empowerment movement that continues to evolve and reach many people.
From Concern to a Movement
The Wadah Foundation was born out of Mrs Anie’s concern for the welfare of communities, particularly those living and developing within grassroots communities. The name ‘Wadah’, an acronym for ‘Wanita dan Harapan’ (Women and Hope), has never been merely the organisation’s identity. Rather, it has become a space where concern takes shape through concrete action.
For Mrs Anie, the Wadah Foundation is not merely an organisation, but a space that offers every individual the opportunity to recognise their own potential and find opportunities to improve their lives. The spirit of Wadah – Wadah Cares, Wadah Listens, Wadah Inspires and Wadah Stays – forms an essential part of this journey: listening to the community, understanding their needs, being present throughout the process and continuing to walk alongside them.
It is from this spirit that various initiatives in the fields of education, health and economic empowerment continue to flourish. These initiatives are more than just programmes: the Wadah Foundation’s journey demonstrates how consistently nurtured care can open up opportunities for individuals to grow, take on roles and, in time, bring about change in their communities.
Transformations as a Testament to the Journey
At the Celebration of Life 2026, Prof. Stella Christie, Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia and a friend of Wadah, shared her insights on the transformation of the Wadah Foundation.
Prof Stella Christie with Mrs Anie Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Mr Hashim Djojohadikusumo, & Wira
According to Prof Stella, this transformation can be seen in how Wadah has grown from an organic initiative into an organisation with increasingly professional systems and governance. This transformation has been marked by the attainment of Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) and ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification.
For Wadah, professionalism is not something that replaces the compassion that lies at the very root of its existence. On the contrary, it is through increasingly robust systems and governance that this compassion can be maintained, passed on and expanded to reach more people. These achievements are not merely institutional milestones. They are part of a long journey demonstrating how a simple sense of compassion, when nurtured with sincerity, can grow into an ever-stronger movement.
When Family Becomes Part of the Journey
The journey of Mrs Anie and the Wadah Foundation is also inextricably linked to the family, who has been there to offer their support over the years.
Family session
This sense of togetherness was palpable during the family session, which was attended by Mr Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo and Mrs Anie, alongside their children Aryo, Sara and Indra, together with their spouses and their grandchildren. The session made it clear that the journey, which began with the founding generation, has gradually become a broader family story.
The values established from the very beginning do not end with a single generation. Over time, the next generation has begun to take on roles in its own way to preserve these values whilst also opening up new possibilities for continued service to the community.
Thus, the Celebration of Life honoured not only the journey of the foundation but also a journey of values – values that grew from the family, found their way into the wider community, and are now carried forward by many people who have chosen to be part of it.
Celebrating Friendships That Have Grown Over the Years
Mrs Linda Linsmayer, Ms Christina Ferreros, & Mrs Baljit Kalha
The event brought together friends and partners who have been part of Wadah’s journey, including Linda Linsmayer, Christina Ferreros, Baljit Kalha, Margareth Njoo, Gail Aluwi, Grace Farhani and many others. Their presence served as a reminder that the journey of service is never undertaken alone.
During one of the gatherings – a Coffee Morning session with Threads of Life – participants shared experiences on empowering women weavers and explored potential collaboration with the weaving communities supported by the Wadah Foundation in East Nusa Tenggara.
Coffee Morning Session with Threads of Life
It is here that friendship takes on a broader meaning. A gathering does not end with simply being together; it opens up new possibilities to collaborate and do more for others.
Ultimately, the Celebration of Life 2026 was not merely a celebration of Mrs Anie Djojohadikusumo’s birthday, but also a moment to give thanks for the life journey shared with family, friends, partners and the communities that have been part of it.
It was a journey that began with compassion, grew through friendship and continues to find its meaning through the impact created together.
From that compassion, an idea was born, and from that idea grew a movement. And through this long journey, more and more people have found space to grow and bring meaning to the lives of others.
A warm atmosphere at Celebration of Life
This is the deepest meaning of the Celebration of Life: celebrating life by being grateful for togetherness and friendship, and creating space to continue making a positive impact on many people’s lives.
Author: Wahyuning Dwi Wardani Ndraha
Editor: Zul Herman, Aurora Nurhidayah Rifani
