“Since graduating from ASEAN SEDP, we have grown in more directions than we expected, in our business model, our market reach, our communication, our geographic footprint, and our network across the region. The programme did not change what we stand for; it strengthened how we run it”, – Bianca Angelique – Engineering Officer, su-re.co.
What if biogas can make everyday life a little easier for households, especially women?
Since the beginning, su-re.co (Sustainability & Resilience) has been driven by a simple mission: introduce biogas and help people. What started as an effort to introduce a cleaner source of energy has grown into a solution that can ease the daily burden of families, especially women who often spend time collecting firewood for cooking.
Seeing su-re.co’s genuine commitment to create meaningful impact, ASEAN SEDP came alongside to support their journey by expanding their reach, strengthening their capabilities, and bringing their vision to more communities.
One of the most meaningful milestones in su-re.co’s journey with ASEAN SEDP was the Empowering Women and Youth in Sumba Demo Day project. ASEAN SEDP has helped expand su-re.co’s geographic reach, giving them the opportunity to deliver a biogas workshop in Kadaghu Tana, Sumba and introduce biogas to the community for the first time.
Before the project, Kadaghu Tana, a remote and highly vulnerable upland community in Southwest Sumba, had no access to clean cooking energy. All households relied on firewood, placing a heavy burden on women through long hours of fuel collection, constant smoke exposure, and pressure on surrounding forests. Clean energy options were unavailable, and communities feared anything related to gas, believing it to be dangerous or explosive.
After the project, the most significant change was increased awareness and choice. Through training, local partners, youth, and community members are now able to install biogas systems, explain their benefits, and support other households. Two-day community workshops and live cooking demonstrations helped shift perceptions, showing that biogas are safe, clean, and practical. As a result, Kadaghu Tana moved from having no clean energy options to knowing and considering a safer, cleaner alternative, laying out the foundation for healthier households and long-term energy resilience.
“Initially, before using biogas, I got back pain as I needed to carry wood for long distances. I also need to do other house chores (cooking, childcare, farming, taking care of livestock), while also finding wood, which was time-consuming. In the beginning, I was terrified that the gas would explode, but after we fried crackers with biogas, I could see that it is safe and it does not smell. I hope that I can get the biogas, so I no longer have to walk for miles to search for wood anymore”, Kristina Walu, villager in Kadaghu Tana, Sumba.
Beyond that, joining the ASEAN SEDP Elevate also strengthened the operations system of su-re.co. The biggest shift for su-re.co began when they joined the one-on-one mentoring sessions through the ASEAN SEDP 4.0 Programme.
The mentoring sessions helped them to approach financing step by step, including a CSR partnership which they plan to grow gradually with clear improvements from one year to the next.
The technical mentoring was equally valuable, giving them confidence and the tools to implement what they have learned and to reach new markets they had not tapped before. Through these mentoring sessions, they received guidance on how to build a healthier business model around our biogas digester, rather than depending on any single source of funding.
Creating impact also means reaching more people and raising awareness. Seeing su-re.co reach more people is also a part of ASEAN SEDP’s mission to help social enterprises grow.
To support this, ASEAN SEDP provided su-re.co with a Social Media Masterclass, helping them strengthen their digital presence and share their story more effectively. As a result, they have successfully grown their TikTok presence from zero to 10.9K followers.
This has not only helped them tell the biogas story better but has lifted engagement across all their activities. Today, more people are reaching out through social media to ask about su-re.co’s biogas production, turning online awareness into real conversations.
Comparing where they started to where they are now, the biggest change is understanding. After the programme, they see the whole system more clearly, knowing their future steps and exploring new financing pathways, thus, public-sector buyers can adopt the technology more easily, and they can depend less on grants. Across so many aspects and directions, the programme has helped su-re.co become better and more sustainable.
