Growth is rarely loud. More often, it arrives quietly — in the moments we choose to listen, to question, to evolve. In this first edition of Unfold, Bentala invites voices who have walked the long road of becoming. This chapter opens with Faradesi Ardialisa.

Faradesi Ardialisa — or Fara, as she prefers to be called — stands at the intersection of purpose and action. As a Partnership Lead for a sustainability NGO in Indonesia, her work is rooted in one urgent question: how can we build systems that allow real, lasting change to take place? With a focus on waste management and the structures that shape how we consume, discard, and recover, Fara moves beyond surface-level solutions toward something deeper — a transformation of the systems themselves. Her journey is not only about sustainability as a concept, but about responsibility, connection, and the quiet courage it takes to reimagine the world we live in.

Beginnings: Where The Journey Started

What first sparked your passion for sustainability?

I think it started back, back then in high school. So I remember feeling bothered when I saw people litter — hmm for example when they are throwing things out of buses, cars or even liken throwing things into rivers without any thought. So later, when I had the opportunity to study abroad in the UK, it was mind-blowing to see people being asked to separate their waste properly. That’s when I realized — Oh, there is a solution, a systematic one. So I think that was the initial spark.

What does impact mean to you personally?

For me, impact happens when something I do — no matter how big or small — can make someone else’s life a little bit better, and ideally, it leaves a lasting effect. So It doesn’t have to be loud or big or visible. Because True impact is when something shifts the way people live, think, or act — in a meaningful way.

“True impact doesn’t have to be loud or visible. It’s when something shifts the way people live, think, or act — in a meaningful way.”

 

Purpose in Practice: The Work Today

The work you do bridges many worlds, people, systems, and the environment.
What do you find most challenging?

Yeah, in my profession where I have to cultivate partnerships between people, there are two things challenge me the most: one is aligning expectations, and two balancing the pace between people and the systems. So, within the sphere of what I do, there are so many stakeholders. There are Governments, communities, donors, and businesses, or even the organizations like NGOs. They don’t always move at the same speed, or even sometimes they don’t speak the same “language.” So, bridging that gap — without losing momentum or trust — is really tough. It takes ongoing conversation, knowledge sharing, mindful dialogue, and, most importantly, patience. Without that, it’s so easy to fall into frustration.

In a world driven by speed and convenience, how do we bring people back to care for the planet, and for each other?

Ah, that’s such a good question. Honestly, it’s something I ask myself all the time. I’m not an expert, especially at a large or systemic level — I think that kind of change requires a massive structural shift, one that’s really hard to simplify.

But speaking as an individual, and as a parent. I have two kids, a ten-year-old and seven-year-old, both are girls. I believe it starts at home. So, we can begin with being more mindful of what we need, what we think we need, what we consume, what we spend, and what we leave behind. And we can make reflection a habit — noticing what’s happening around us.

So for example: sometimes during school holiday, I take my two daughters on public transportation going to another city. We live in Bogor, so going to Jakarta even is going to another city. We bring our own food and drinks - no gadget - and we just talk about anything. So, when we see someone throwing away their trash on the street, I ask them, “Is that right? Is that wrong? What would you do? What would you feel?” Or even as simple as looking at the sky and see is there any clouds? If there are no clouds, is it because it’s going to rain or is it because of pollution. If it is because of pollution, I can ask them, what would you do to reduce the pollution.

So, what I am trying to say is, we can start with our families, friends, people around us. Start with what we have, and do what we can — early, often, and with intention. Enjoy the process mindfully, making sure it always comes from a good heart.

 

Reflection on Sustainability

Sustainability work can take so much heart. With all the urgency that comes with this field, what keeps you steady and hopeful?

Oh, I have to be honest, staying hopeful is a struggle. And more often than not, I feel both hopeful and hopeless all at the same time. But I am also a believer that we co-create our own reality. And we can choose it. So, I choose to be hopeful. I mean, I have to.

I have two kids who have more, hopefully, decades ahead of them than I do. They are the reason why I do what I do — and the reason I choose to keep on trying, and to stay on the right side of history. 

Can you share a moment that reminded you why this matters?

Oh, my girls! My children! My children are that reminder. So, it’s not about a single moment, but they are more of a constant reminder. Every time I see them, I’m reminded that sustainability is not an option anymore — it’s essential. It’s a must! If we don’t act now, the world we pass on to them simply won’t be enough.

“I choose to be hopeful. I have two children who have more decades ahead of them than I do — they are the reason I keep trying, and the reason I choose to stay on the right side of history.”

 

A Quiet Reset

What helps you recharge or return to yourself?  Something small that helps you reconnect with yourself again.

Yeah, that’s a good question! I find peace in nature. I love taking morning walks on the beach, for example, or listening to the waves, not thinking about anything. Not even, you know, having any thoughts about the chaos in the world. Even sometimes just looking at the sky or standing barefoot on grass helps. Being in that meditative state reminds me how small we really are —a teeny-tiny part — in this vast universe.

Is there a scent, place, or sound that feels like home to you – something that reconnects you to yourself?

Ah, I love the scent of clean, fresh air when it mixed with the earthy smell of a dry soil after the rain — you know when just after the rains stop or just when the rain falls, it hits the grounds, and the you have that scent of the earth. I also like the scent of the ocean. Both make me feel grounded, alive, and at peace.

 

The Scent of Impact

What does being an inspiration mean to you?

To me, it means moving someone — or encouraging them to be better, to do better. Inspiration doesn’t have to be grand; it just needs to spark something good.

If your impact could be felt as a fragrance, what would it smell like and what emotion would it leave behind?

Ah! It would be a scent that brings peace of mind — something that says, despite all the chaos in this world, everything will be okay. And I would want that feeling to linger, to last.

“If my impact were a fragrance, it would bring peace of mind — a quiet reminder that despite all the chaos in the world, everything will be okay.”

 

Unfolding Continues

Fara’s journey shows us that true impact is often quiet — shaped by intention, care, and the courage to keep choosing hope. In her work, her motherhood, and the moments she returns to herself, we are reminded that what we leave behind matters. Like a fragrance that lingers, her presence carries something calm, grounding, and lasting.

Unfold continues — through every story of growth, change, and becoming.
And through every journey still in the making.

Join Bentala’s Unfold campaign and share your story of growth, change, and becoming.

 

See more of Unfold stories here