In the heart of the Mentawai Islands, off the west coast of Sumatra, a long-held dream is beginning to take physical shape. After more than 15 years of dedicated grassroots work, the Suku Mentawai team has reached a powerful milestone: the realisation of a permanent space for cultural arts, education and community connection.

Suku Mentawai Chairman, Fransiskus Yan, explains that “This Centre will help shift our future perspectives for Mentawai People to be proud and to freely express our culture.”

Watch the short video below to hear directly from the people behind this project and vision:

This long-term vision for the Suku Mentawai is now becoming tangible.

The positive response received for their support campaign launched at the start of 2025 has enabled the Mentawai team to have successfully secure a beautiful plot of land for the Mentawai Cultural Arts and Education Centre. This is a significant step forward for the Mentawai people, made possible by years of community effort, trusted partnerships, and the generosity of supporters near and far.

 Members of the Suku Mentawai team at the new site for their Cultural Arts Education Centre. Photo: Suku Mentawai

Thanks to the unwavering commitment of the team and the generous support of donors,  May 2025 saw the first stage of construction commence: laying the cultural centre’s foundation stones. Each foundation and post set into the earth represents more than just progress — it’s a symbol of community spirit, cultural pride, and shared vision. Carefully placed by local hands, these early steps are a powerful reminder that even the most ambitious dreams begin with steady, grounded effort.

What the Centre will offer

The Mentawai Cultural Arts & Education Centre will be a vibrant home for community-led learning and cultural exchange. It will bring together youth and elders to share knowledge through language and storytelling, music, dance, ecology and plant medicine, and cultural arts including traditional tattooing. It will also host ceremonies and gatherings, while offering visitors a space to respectfully engage with Mentawai culture.

Suku Mentawai’s cultural education programs are already thriving, with more than 350 students participating across six local villages. The foundation for this work has been laid over many years, through listening, learning, and collaborating closely with their Mentawai communities.

“I’m thrilled to learn about Mentawai culture. Participate in our cultural school we learn so much, such as traditional dances and music, medicinal plants, folk tales, cultural taboos, and more.”, shares a female Suku Mentawai student.

Suku Mentawai students learning about Mentawai’s staple food, Sago. Photo: Suku Mentawai

“We continue to expand the vision of our foundation and community, advancing and strengthening Mentawai culture.” – YPBM Chairman, Fransiskus Yan, adds.

This new Mentawai Cultural Arts Education Centre will provide a permanent home for these community-driven, cultural & ecological education programs; allowing them to expand in scale and depth, and ensuring they are protected and sustained for future generations.

Support the Final Stage

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our friends and supporters, we’ve already raised most of the funding needed, yet we still need your help to ensure their vision can be reached.

For this final stage we have setup a GoFundMe page for you to donate to this meaningful project:  gofund.me/a51abb1a

*For tax-deductible donations in the USA, donate here via: Creative Visions

Dr. Reimar Schefold

In support of the Mentawai Cultural Education Centre project, Dr. Schefold and his family have generously donated over 100 copies of his incredible book, Toys for the Souls: Life and Art on the Mentawai Islands.

This beautifully illustrated book, now translated into English, offers a rare glimpse into the rich traditions and artistry of the Mentawai people. This publication is the culmination of decades of work spent living with and learning from the Mentawai community.

Click on the GoFundMe campaign link above or contact us to learn how to obtain a copy of Reimar’s publication.

Masura’ bagatta, thank you from all of us at IEF and Suku Mentawai.