A Community Rooted in Care
Some stories aren’t about villas, retreats, or holidays. They’re about what we choose to give back to the land beneath our feet.
Slow Gili Air was created not just as a hospitality project, but as a heartbeat of the island—supporting its people, nurturing nature, and helping create a future where both can thrive.
Every year, we devote time, energy, and resources to giving back to this place we call home. 2024–2025 has been one of our most meaningful years yet.
1. Supporting Education: 45 Million IDR for the Elementary School
Education shapes the future. On a small island like Gili Air, schools often lack stable infrastructure, materials, and funding.
Through community fundraisers, guest participation, and the support of the Slow family, we raised 45 million IDR for the Gili Air Elementary School—in just 24 hours!
This incredible milestone came during a special community event, featuring a concert by Anna and Catur Hari Wijaya, a lemonade stand, and Mame Raw Lombok cacao treats. Locals, guests, and volunteers came together, showing what is possible when a community acts with purpose.
Funds support:
- Classroom repairs
- Educational materials and books
- School supplies and teaching tools
- Extracurricular activities
- Improvements to the school environment
Why this matters:
Supporting education directly helps the children of Gili Air become the island’s next caretakers, educators, eco-warriors, and storytellers.
A message from the heart:
Every guest who stays at Slow, joins a retreat, donates, or shares our mission contributes to this impact. Your support can help us do even more next year.
2. Planting 1,000+ Trees Every Year
A healthy island begins with healthy soil. Six years ago, Slow began planting trees as part of a long-term environmental restoration initiative. What started small has become an annual island tradition.
We collaborate with:
- Gili Reef Guardians
- Gili Eco Trust
- Local schools, volunteers, and travelers
Together, we plant over 1,000 trees every year, in November and February.
Why trees matter:
- Reduce erosion
- Provide shade and cool the air
- Regenerate soil
- Support biodiversity
- Protect coastlines and help reefs thrive
- Add natural beauty that nourishes the soul of the island
Tree planting days are joyful celebrations. Children run barefoot with saplings, locals and travelers dig side by side, and laughter fills the air. Planting a tree is planting hope.
How you can join:
- Sponsor a tree
- Donate to Gili Reef Guardians
- Join a planting day
No experience needed, only a love for the earth.
👉 Take action today and help Gili Air flourish!
3. Sustainability as a Core Philosophy
At Slow, sustainability is not just a buzzword—it’s a way of life. Every choice we make aims to create care, not harm.
Our values include:
- Give back more than we take — restore balance instead of depleting resources
- Protect what makes Gili Air special — nature, community, wellness, and heritage
- Long-term thinking — focusing on years, not weeks
- Education as the foundation of change — planting seeds of care for generations
- Collaboration over competition — working hand-in-hand with local organizations
These principles guide every retreat, every guest experience, and every decision at Slow.
4. More Community Projects Coming in 2025
We’re expanding our impact with projects such as:
- Waste reduction programs
- Reef-friendly education for travelers
- School garden projects
- Youth ocean awareness days
- Cultural preservation initiatives
- Community wellness programs
Gili Air is growing, and we want that growth to be thoughtful, sustainable, and heart-centered.
Why This Work Matters
Because small islands are fragile.
Because ecosystems need guardians.
Because children deserve opportunity.
Because tourism should support, not deplete.
Because every tree planted today will shade someone tomorrow.
Because community is everything.
Thank You for Being Part of the Story
If you’ve stayed with us, joined a retreat, supported a fundraiser, or planted a tree, you are part of this impact.
By choosing Slow, you choose:
- Sustainability
- Intention
- Connection
- Community care
And together, we make a difference.
Final Reflection: Community Is Slow. Slow Is Community.
We rise together.
Nature thrives when people care.
Children grow when communities support them.
Islands flourish when tourism becomes regenerative.
Slow is not just a place—it is a promise to protect the land that holds us.
This is Slow. This is heart. This is community. And this is only the beginning.
Want to Join the Movement?
Sponsor a tree, donate, or join a planting day and become part of the story of Gili Air