Young Indonesians Decide on the Country’s Future Direction at Conference

Mustika Hapsoro

Young, wild and free. It’s a common stereotype that young people are lazy, apathetic, dazed and somewhat confused. A stereotype that unfortunately is embraced by the youth itself unaware of the potential and power they hold in their very own hands, while in fact the fate of the country depends on the younger generation.

Youth is a very crucial period in an individual’s life. It’s the transition from being a naïve child to a mature adult; one who can carry responsibility given to us by our elders. Alas, many people still believe in the negative image that society has constructed for the youth.

Thank goodness, there are young Indonesians who realize the fallacy of that logic and intend to awaken their fellow youth that change is possible and executable, and encourage participation in the development of the country. 

The Indonesian Youth Conference (IYC) is a forum for young Indonesians to exchange knowledge and ideas, discuss current issues, and create solutions to address the nation’s problems. The conference is held annually and this year marks their third year running.

The event overall will be held for four days. This year’s tagline is “We Decide.” The theme is a continuation from the first two themes: “It’s Time for Us to be Heard” and “The Future Starts Now,” respectively. Just like the previous years, the conference will be divided in two parts: the forum and the festival.

The forum starts on July 3 to 6. For this session, 66 young representatives of Indonesian provinces – consisted of envoys and delegates – will gather and follow training, seminars and workshop to optimize their leadership potential. Just as the previous years, by the end of the conference these delegates are obliged to initiate and execute projects in lieu with social issues they are facing in their provinces.

For the first IYC event in 2010, several successful projects have been carried on such as  “Sekolah Hidup Anak Jalanan” or the school for street children by the delegates of the South Sumatran province, “Sekolah Bersama Yuk”  or invitation to lure children to go to school by the delegates from the South East Sulawesi province, and “Training for Trainers & Achievement Motivation Training” by the delegates of the Central Java Province. The forum is now closed and to participate as a delegate in next conference you must register on the Indonesian Youth Conference official Web site.


The festival, which marks the peak and closing of the conference, takes place on July 7 at the Thamrin Nine Ballroom, UOB Plaza, Central Jakarta. Many participants will get the chance to attend seminars, workshops, community exhibitions and musical performances. Unlike the forum, the festival is open for public.

There will be 14 topics of seminars to choose from. This year will introduce a few topics that have not yet been discussed in the previous IYC events; Journalism and the Social Media, Human Rights, Politics, Youth Movements, Corruption and many others. The speakers will be prominent Indonesian activist and professionals: artist Didi Petet, father of the Indonesian blogger Enda Nasution, independent financial planner Ligwina Hatanto, representatives from National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), and many others. Jakarta Globe’s own football blogger, Pangeran Siahaan, will speak about the thing he knows very well, sports.

Following its success in the past, IYC will also have a surprise session. “We will surely have another surprise session this year,” said Shena Malsiana, IYC’s coordinator and public relations officer. “Last year’s surprise speakers were [news anchor] Desi Anwar and[visual artist and photographer] Jay Subiakto. This year’s surprise speakers are just as inspirational. So if you’re curious, come and join!”

Indonesia’s young pop singer Raisa and local band HiVi will be performing along with a special traditional dance performance by the Sanggar Tari Preggina Agung.

In addition to the forum and festival, this year’s IYC will hold an arts exhibition dubbed “IYC Artspace” that will exhibit two dimensional artworks such as photography, paintings, digital images and books by 12 local young artists.

“The registration for the IYC Artspace opened from the beginning of April to May. There were 90 people who registered. And 13 art pieces were selected from 12 people,” says Vania Chandra Kirana, IYC Artspace expo staff.


“This event is a great opportunity for young Indonesians. It helps us see in what ways we can help in developing the country,” said Shena. “This isn’t the time for apathy. It’s time that we should be aware of the future of the country. If it’s not us, who else? If the country goes down, we will go down with it. We must realize that this country is our home and will be the home of our future generation.

“Imagine the changes we can make if all 60 million youngsters make little but positive contributions for themselves and the country. Surely Indonesia will no longer be seen as small country,” continued Shena.



Being young shouldn’t be an excuse for apathy. Young Indonesians can’t stay blind with regards to the many social and political issues that this country faces on a daily basis. Young Indonesians cannot merely criticize its leaders and not doing anything to help fix the country.

This is the time to decide, to learn from the leaders’ mistakes and together to build a better nation for the young generation and the generations to follow.

Indonesian Youth Conference
Saturday, July 7
Thamrin Nine Ballroom, UOB Plaza
Jl. Moh Thamrin 10, Central Jakarta

Tickets for the IYC 2012 festival can be purchased on their official Web
site at www.indonesianyouthconference.org or via online store Multiply. Prices range from Rp 100.000
to Rp 125.000.
 

Also don’t forget to follow their twitter account @IndonesianYouth as
they announce direct selling of the tickets at certain locations.