Held at Mana Earthly Paradise, this powerful evening welcomed over 50 guests, including investors, NGO leaders, and members of the Ubud community—all coming together to meet and celebrate eight incredible Impact Heroes from across Asia.

What unfolded was more than an event—it was a shared heartbeat of stories, dreams, and possibilities for a regenerative future.

🗓 Event Details

Date: April 16, 2025 (Wednesday)
Time: 6:00–9:00 PM
Venue: Mana Earthly Paradise, Ubud

🌍 Meet the Speakers: Impact Heroes 2025 Cohort

At the Heroes Night 2025, these eight Impact Heroes took the stage, each sharing their personal journey, the social challenges they confront, and their bold visions for a regenerative future:

• Matcha (Thailand) – Championing indigenous youth and LGBTIQ+ rights
• Rukshana (Nepal) – Advocating for legal recognition of transgender communities
• Utkarsh (India) – Reforming justice through AI-powered legal systems
• Tamzid (Bangladesh) – Tackling medical inequality and blood shortages
• Tim (Indonesia) – Regenerating Bali’s land through sustainable agriculture and tourism
• Nida (Pakistan) – Addressing climate change, access to clean potable water, and hygiene
• Freshta (Afghanistan) – Providing education and healing through mobile libraries
• Richa (India) – Promoting well-being through Social Emotional Learning in public schools

Learn more about the Impact Heroes Class of 2025 here.

🎤 What Happened at Heroes Night

<Opening>

The evening began with welcoming remarks by Earth Company co-founders, Aska and Tomo Hamakawa. A video introduction of the heroes set the stage, met with warm applause and a sense of shared anticipation.

<Heroes Talks – Stories in Pechakucha Style>

In a rapid-fire yet heartfelt format (Pechakucha), each hero presented 10 slides for 20 seconds each—just 3 minutes and 20 seconds to share the soul of their work. And yet, within those brief windows, the audience felt the weight of decades of struggle, triumph, and hope.

Here are just a few moments that stirred the room:

🇮🇳 Utkarsh (India)

“If it’s possible in India, it’s possible anywhere. Next week, we might launch something in Indonesia.”

Utkarsh shared how AI has doubled court efficiency in India—cutting trial times by 30–50%. His vision sparked an electrifying round of applause.

🇦🇫 Freshta (Afghanistan)

“Even in the hardest times, people dream. My dream? To build 500 libraries across Afghanistan in 10 years.”

Once a child refugee, now a visionary educator, Freshta’s words brought both tears and quiet resolve to the room.

<Q&A with a Surprise Twist>

The youngest hero, 17-year-old Tamzid, was asked a question by an equally bold 13-year-old social-entrepreneur in the audience “When did you first come up with the idea for your blood-matching system?” Laughter and cheers broke the silence—this was what intergenerational inspiration looked like.

Another standout moment came when local attendees asked Tim, who leads regenerative agriculture in Bali “How can we inspire more young people to engage in farming?”

Tim's reply was deeply rooted in both culture and hope. “It’s not easy, but we’ve hired 30 young grads—most expected to work in banks or government. Now, they’re farmers. And these same youth also create Bali’s sacred Ogoh-Ogoh festival floats. The spirit of this island runs in their veins. What they need is a story—one they can carry forward, not just from their ancestors, but into the future.”

<Closing Reflections>

Aska and Tomo Hamakawa closed the night with words that left the audience quietly moved:

“These heroes are turning the pain of the world into hope. Through their courage, we are reminded that each of us can become part of that hope.” — Aska

“Today reminded us: hope is born through action. The resilience of these heroes gives us strength to face any challenge. I’m deeply grateful to co-create the future with them.” — Tomo

 

<Conversations that Continued Long After>

The formal program ended, but no one left. Attendees gathered around the heroes, engaging in heartfelt conversation and spontaneous connections.

One attendee shared:

“Watching my daughter muster the courage to ask a hero a question reminded me of the immense impact they have on young minds—and on us as adults, too.”

 

Another guest reflected:

“Freshta’s resilience and unwavering hope in the face of unimaginable hardship gave me the courage to keep going.”

💡 Why Heroes Night Matters

Since its inception in 2023, Heroes Night has become more than an event. It is a moment of deepening Earth Company’s roots in Bali, and planting the seeds of future collaboration.

In a world often filled with noise and distraction, this evening reminded everyone: real change begins when we sit together, listen deeply, and act with heart.

Heroes and guests alike left inspired—not just by what’s possible, but by the power of connection.

Earth Company extends its deep gratitude to everyone who helped bring this night to life—from the beautifully handcrafted screen decor by Mana Earthly Paradise’s own staff member, Epa, to the cross-functional Earth Company team who made it all possible.

Together, we step forward into a regenerative future—one story, one spark, one hero at a time. 💛