SFCG Indonesia Inspires Youth to Become Community Leaders

By Jess Engebretson

Jess Engebretson interned with SFCG Indonesia

It was time to go home. The hectic day was over and beneath the dark sky, sleeping bodies lay stretched along duffel bags on the porch.  We—a group of SFCG staffers and about fifty Indonesian youth– had just finished organizing a three-day convention. Participants of the “Aceh Youth Forum” came in hopes of answering the question: how can Acehnese youth contribute to sustainable peacebuilding and reconstruction of their community?

The young Acehnese napping around me had discussed everything from shari’ah (Islamic law) and LGBT issues to social networking.  At the end of each day, they wrote

Youth typing lessons learned from the day's seminars

summaries of their discussions along with a proposed plan of action. The resulting 50 page document was later sent to local leaders. It consisted of several recommendations including: the need to increase educational opportunities for youth, promote tourism and preserve traditional culture.

The Youth Forum was the conclusion of a three-month long project, Aceh Youth Radio for Peacebuilding (AYRP), in which Acehnese radio professionals taught radio journalism skills to youth.

The youth then produced a weekly show called “Geunderang Damee” (The Drums of Peace). We previously blogged about the show here.

The program ran for 12 weeks, after which, participants gathered at the Forum to discuss their experience.   As we concluded several days of intense discussions on the future of Aceh, we were tuckered out.

Leaning against a pillar on the tiled porch of SFCG’s office in Aceh, I waved good-bye tothe last group of participants as they grabbed their bags and boarded the labi-labis that would take them home.

Though the project was complete and SFCG staff relocated their office from Aceh to Jakarta, the youth participants continued the work inspired by the Forum.

The Youth Declaration was celebrated at a street fair

They organized and drafted a Youth Declaration which was printed and distributed

throughout the city, including copies delivered to the KNPI (National Youth Committee of Indonesia).

The work of the youth organizers led them to be featured on the front page of the Indonesian newspaper, Serambi.  They became like local celebrities, demonstrating their commitment to positively shaping Aceh’s future at a time when most news coverage featured disagreements and citizens casting doubt on Aceh’s future.

Aceh Youth participants

Youth were empowered as a result of the Forum and they are still working, writing and organizing.  And as long as they have something to say, I – and many others who’ve had the privilege of working with them – will be listening closely.