Some social issues have been weighing on me recently as I find myself among people struggling on their own battlefields, such as financial strain, lack of educational support, and unemployment. It really got me thinking, what can I do to help? Then, I realized there are so many things I can’t tackle alone.
That’s why joining the Youth International Day 2025 by UN Association Indonesia (UNAI), where young changemakers came together to discuss how we can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), felt so meaningful, reminding me that many people care about these issues too.
Although the event was rescheduled and transitioned online due to the unrest in Jakarta—which meant losing the chance to meet others in person—I’m grateful I still had the opportunity to participate and gain valuable insights.
The event focused on three main topics: people, planet, and prosperity, representing the SDGs. It was structured into four main sections: the catalyst conference, the insight talk, a panel discussion on specific topics, the chamber forum, and the SDGs Clinic.
The Catalyst Conference
The catalyst conference was splendidly brought by two inspiring speakers, Dina Mariana Lumban Tobing and Ardine Gantari. While Dina is an activist focused on justice for disabilities and social inclusion in disaster management, Ardine is a youth advocate who actively participates in the environmental movement. Both speakers were uplifting as they shared their ups and downs in initiating a movement.
What inspired me the most was when Dina encouraged us to start participating in the change and said that, as young people, the future is in our hands. She also emphasized that it doesn’t have to be significant steps, but even small ones matter. And we can start it now.
The Insight Talk
The insight talk was no less interesting, with Randa Sandhita as a Youth Focal Point from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Rafliansyah as a co-founder of Timur Network, and Fiza Khan as a founding member and spokesperson from Green Welfare. Each talked about a focused topic: people, planet, and prosperity, and how their organizations take part in tackling those problems.
Randa shared his heartbreaking yet inspiring story about how he struggled to survive after his dad passed away due to the Tsunami in Aceh when he was a child. The UNDP program helped him overcome those devastating situations and finally survive, with a better education and career. It motivated him to be a part of the UNDP, whose mission is to help people like him.
One interesting point was when one of the participants asked Randa’s opinion about the high unemployment rate issue among the young generation. He pointed out that unemployment happens because university curricula are outdated to match current industry and professional needs. Listening to that, I couldn’t agree more.
If some young people feel left out of opportunities, it creates frustration and weakens the sense of togetherness in society.
Rafliansyah, a person from East Indonesia, which is known as an underprivileged area, shared his remarkable story of co-founding Timur Network. This community empowers youth in Eastern Indonesia with the skills to overcome challenges, ensuring they can access the same opportunities in education and careers as those in Western Indonesia.
I’m proud of him because he still cares about his fellow Eastern Indonesians despite having stability and privileges in Jakarta.
Stories like Rafliansyah’s also remind me of Kampung Jahit Maharrani, where the founder empowers local women through sewing, helping them gain skills and independence so that no one is left behind.
Last but not least, Fiza Khan came with a profound story about the journey of Green Welfare Indonesia, a movement that focused on sustainable, green literacy, and marginalized community involvement in environmental issues. She wrapped up that it is crucial to address such problems, as everything else becomes meaningless if our planet is not livable.
The Chamber People, Planet, and Prosperity Discussion
Among 150 participants, the coordinator divided us into three chambers: People, Planet, and Prosperity. And every chamber consisted of several groups. I was in the Prosperity Chamber, grouped with four other members.
We were given three case studies on powering prosperity: inclusion of workforce disabilities in Indonesia, human rights in the oil palm plantation sector, and human rights in the fisheries sector. We agreed to choose the first case.
Here is the brief case study we needed to discuss, figure out the solution, and present it in the main room:
The numbers tell a hard truth: people with disabilities in Indonesia still face significant barriers in the job market. Their labour force participation is 51%—far below the general population’s 70%. Even when they join the workforce, unemployment is slightly higher, and wages are on average 30% lower than those of their non-disabled peers with the same education.
The case study opened my eyes—it had never really crossed my mind that people with disabilities face unique struggles in the job market, which also means that it is often invisible to many of us.
I had a delightful group discussion. I enjoyed how we brainstormed ideas on how to assist disabled people in overcoming the challenges.
In a nutshell, our initiatives to address the problem included building a skill-training community for disabled people to compete in the job market, advocating for enforcing government regulations to ensure non-discriminatory recruitment processes, and encouraging young entrepreneurs to establish a start-up to prioritize inclusive hiring.
I was given the chance to present our group’s social project in the main room, in front of fellow participants and the speakers—some of whom are founders and community leaders. Initially, I felt so nervous, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to share our ideas with inspiring changemakers.
As I plan to start my own movement, this event truly benefited me. I was elated, leaving the forum with fresh insights, new connections, and a renewed hope about contributing to shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.
International Youth Day for me is not only a celebration but also a reminder that every action matters. The true meaning lies in how we care and start to take action, no matter how small. If we allow our ideas to flourish, the energy of youth can transform challenges into opportunities and shape a future that benefits us all.
