Voice Out!

Besty Berliana – YOT Campus Ambassador ITB – Artikel Bulan September

This is my essay that has been selected to be presented in UNESCO Asian Youth Forum 2011, last August. I hope that my essay can give you some to think about voicing our opinion as youth, together. : )

Speaking loud in many ways, is a process that is being done by many young people in Indonesia. As it sounds, heard by many people, then translated and distributed back into action. Courage in voicing opinions, as the rights that may be essential, should be best utilized in the positive way. The opinion of young men are usually selfish but unique, different but fresh. Youth must have place among representatives of government, because youth could give new things that could be solutive. Spirit and aspirations that must be grabbed while young, by linking it to the movement and youth organizations . Spirit and aspirations that must be processed in such a way so that the output will inspires others to do more. The challenge now tends to be guide the movement to be more cooperative, and applicable to the Indonesian state. Move together, voicing together, and inspire together. Transmit the spirit of one to the other. The second challenge is to provide avenues for youth who want to voice their opinions, but do not have adequate facilities, due to many diversities, many cultures here in Indonesia. Youths from large cities should dare pass it to the villages that have not been able to voice their opinion. So that the hands of government could reach the little people in need.

Government should be more concern in society issues especially educational issues. Education is an important foundation for start a generation. Education is the only real power, that is left when we can no longer buy anything anymore. But the fact that now is the education still difficult to be reached by poor society. Funds from the government get corrupted, and lack of follow-up make all the work programs and funding for education in a futile journey. Education for youth, especially, is something worth fighting for. Education at an early age, where the earliest character building occurs, should be invested properly and seriously.
There should be more awareness and help from the community.

We can not completely surrender to the government, sometimes we have to do it our own way. In my opinion, the facts that occurred in front of my eyes is very sad when compared with the existing corrupt. Many children does not go to school and eventually become criminals in the streets and disturbs the public.

Issues to be discussed again is public awareness of the existence of public space. Urban society, basically have a diverse level of comfort against the elements of the city. Not all segments of society feel that the cities in Indonesia is a city that is not comfortable, especially the capital Jakarta. Some of the observations stated that the circumstances are not ideal, makes people uncomfortable to be elements of the city. This situation can be caused by lack of knowledge of the community and city stakeholders on the potential elements of the city that can be upgraded to a comfortable city.
Congestion is increasing because people increasingly busy, the issues emerging in Indonesian society. Particularly Jakarta, which is predicted to have a big jam in 2020. Therefore improvement of the first element in direct contact with the community will support the growing quality of the city and towards sustainable cities. Before they headed to the city’s continuity comfortable then go through the process in advance of each element.

You need to build trust.

Non-youth helped the establishment and development of the youth movement. There is adequate government funding to help youth in Indonesia. The existence of government programs is also quite helpful to youth in Indonesia. But I think the most important thing is the grow of confidence in youth community. Because again, youth is often underestimated due to lack of experiences. Many organizations are beginning to help direct the youth and the youth organizations. Assistance also began arriving in this period. So it must be maintained in order to develop optimally.
The way our voices can be heard regionally in my opinion is to make a great works together in order to attract a regional audience in Asia. The works should be published with optimally, and we also have to present it to the world boldly and bravely. We must believe that we can.