Purpose -Following the 26 December 2004 tsunami, Planet Risk NGO took part in the international research program TSUNARISK and ATIP-CNRS Jeune Chercheur. The aim of this paper is to encourage the development of tsunami-resilient communities essentially through educative actions. Design/methodology/approach -The tsunami risk in Indonesia was assessed by researchers. Planet Risk then used scientific findings and advice for building adapted prevention actions among Javanese populations. Findings -Many people could have survived if they had received a basic knowledge of tsunamis. The Indonesian public as well as local authorities must be educated to face tsunami risk. To be efficient, this education must be adapted to local cultural and geographical characteristics. Collaboration between researchers and practitioners is a good means of reaching such an objective. Originality/value -The paper is the result of a two-year successful collaboration between interdisciplinary scientific teams and an NGO team. It demonstrates that an efficient prevention scheme can be implemented through this kind of collaboration. To the authors' knowledge it is the first time that such tsunami education programmes have been led in Indonesia.