Eighty-two years ago, on Oct. 28, 1928, a cluster of young patriots issued a communiqué called the Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge) declaring the Indonesia’s united nation, motherland and language.
On that occasion, youth groups from Java, Sumatra and other islands pledged to strive for one nation, one country and one language — Indonesia.
Later, the occurrence turned into a proud moment and major turning point in the country’s independence struggle that culminated in the Declaration of Independence 17 years later.
Today, it is high time to take a closer look at how our youths display their patriotic spirit for the Youth Pledge. Have we provided them with better ways of respecting this country while recognizing their rights?
Or perhaps the government and society fail to come to terms with the current youths’ characters, which in turn does not foster their sense of pride as Indonesians.
Compared to Japan and the US, Indonesian youths are not that bad in terms of scientific competition as long as they enjoy equal treatment and opportunity.
The problem lies in their poor self-discipline. There must be serious programs in our attempts to
create disciplined youths in this country.
The programs need to create excellent Indonesian youths in line with the national youth policy by developing the youth’s identity and nationalism through discipline and physical training as well as community services.
For that purpose, I view volunteers and scouts as promising for the youths. With increasing natural disasters, global climate change and the intrinsic-dangerous geographical location of Indonesia, it is imperative that the youths, together with governments and large public entities, be prepared for disasters.
Youngsters, for instance, could become search and rescue volunteers. The program is aimed at developing the youths as the first responders to emergency cases, teaching participants the necessary skills and knowledge required in facing emergencies and enabling them to provide the community with immediate assistance.
Joining scout association (Pramuka), to which our youngsters habi-tually pay less attention, can be an avenue for yielding potential human resources by instilling strong moral values among the young members.
Much research suggests that scouting skills and activities help members to acquire a positive and proactive attitude as well as a commitment to their entrusted tasks.
The two programs are basically representing character-building efforts. Enabling youths to take on this important role in society is a vital part of character building especially since it enables them to become more involved in the community and can guide them to become responsible adults.
Another important point, on the part of the government, is to channel the youths’ vast amount of energy and commitment through a common platform to catapult Indonesia in to the international spotlight and to make the country excel in all its national and international undertakings. I am of the opinion that the government is required to provide emphasis on the right use of talents.
Indonesian universities have produced thousands of graduates at least once a year. The number of graduates has been increasing every year after the university implemented significant changes in its curriculum, offering students a wider choice of courses.
Though this bodes well for a country in which human capital is scarce, what is being done to ensure that talents are channeled in respective fields or areas of expertise to reduce the chances of mismatches in the job market?
This occurrence is common in Indonesia, and in my opinion, is detrimental to the country’s efforts in forming a knowledge-based economy.
Relying too much on the government, however, will never encourage youths to become more independent.
A proposed program to muddle through the problem is to promote entrepreneurship as a catalyst to self-reliant youths. Becoming young entrepreneurs mean that they dare to accept the challenge in being independent.
When it comes to the youths’ poor sense of nationalism, it is unnecessary for the government to pin the blame upon them.
Some Indonesians, particularly juveniles, ostensibly loathe their own country. It is a normal feeling because all the information the public is being fed is just numbing.
They have infotainment in the morning, news about crime in the afternoon and either TV series or reality shows in the evening.
Thus creating more positive and balanced news is important because the way our youngsters think is heavily influenced by the media.
The Youth Pledge Day celebration this year is expected to be a drive to facilitate and show support for Indonesian youths to strive for a more active contribution to the country of Indonesia, be it through government or private agencies by voluntary means but also through NGOs. Furthermore, it is an avenue for youths to reaffirm and re-strengthen their bondship and solidarity.
The success of youth is the success of the nation. Nobody should step aside. The youth should come and join every effort toward national development.
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