Who we are

Wide Open Projects (WOP) is a non-profit organization assisting local partners in educational, social and conservation projects in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. We help our partners by collaborating on projects and by providing them the resources they need.

Our mission

Provide local communities with the resources and skills necessary to achieve relevant education and conservation projects.

Our story

2017

Year 1

Our first year in Raja Ampat

While we were visiting the region in 2017 we fell in love with the people and were amazed by the biodiversity and beauty of the region. This is when we had the idea to develop projects in Raja Ampat to benefit the local communities while promoting conservation of their marine life. In this critical time for the region when tourism is increasing every year, we believe that providing resources and awareness to local people and visitors is essential to achieve great projects!

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2018

Year 2

Research & Development

To ensure Wide Open Projects grew and performed projects adequately, we spent one month in Raja Ampat developing partnerships and friendships across the region. We rented a boat and travelled to remote villages in the region. We discussed local needs with community leaders in over 13 villages and created valuable friendships on the way!

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2019

Year 3

Expanding our reach

During this expedition, a few friends joined us and we performed some coral restoration and education projects in a few villages. We solidified our partnerships in the region and constructed and placed over 75 structures in the water to restore damaged coral reefs in Arborek and Sawinggrai. 

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2022

Year 4

Ambitious restoration projects

After three years without being able to enter Indonesia due to COVID-19, we were very happy to go back to Raja Ampat! With the help of the Waitt Foundation, we performed a large-scale restoration project with our partners a two sites and visited more villages to carry out educational activities.

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The founders

Will

Along with his knowledge of the sea, Will brings a hands-on approach to our organization and he is the master of projects involving structural ingenuity, novel concepts and sustainability.

Using his knowledge in structures, architecture and design, he collaborates on projects in many different environments and cultures worldwide. Will is always on the move, but if you catch him in one place ask him about the catamaran he built by himself.

Omar

Our relationships with local people and communities in Raja Ampat are strong and true in great part due to his genuine and extroverted nature. Omar brings a unique and essential social angle to our projects.

Omar is a fitness instructor in Barcelona and always promotes a healthy lifestyle to people around him. He has a big heart ready to share knowledge and experiences and easily makes friends everywhere he goes.

Phil

Nothing could happen without his communication & social skills combined with his proactive personality. Phil brings our projects to reality from the early stages.

Phil is an Ecologist based in Vancouver, Canada and is currently a PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University. His love of rainforests and the ocean has led him to work on research and conservation projects around the world.