268
F. Shidiq et al.
Many Indonesian youths nowadays are aware of disaster risks and are willing to
contribute to reduce the risks. Due to their huge potential and passion, their capacity
should be built according to the needs and should be recognized by the government
for disaster risk reduction. For instance, youth organizations that provide disaster
education to communities should be ensured that the materials and methods used are
effective and are not conflicting with any DRR principles. Another example is that
during emergency response, their actions should be well coordinated with BNPB or
BPBD, as regulated in the Government Regulations No. 21/2008.
From the samples in this study, most youth organizations and movements are
limited to disaster education, training, seminars, and emergency response. The
government may want to explore other fields of expertise where youth can take part.
Youth who have passion for doing research can maximize their efforts in research
related to DRR and resilience that could be useful for society. Another option is to
engage youth from various fields of expertise to integrate DRR principles in their
activities, thus whichever fields of expertise they are pursuing, DRR, resilience and
sustainability as core values will be implemented.
Indonesia has developed several institutionalized youth CSOs (Civil Society Organization) that have a structure from the central level up to the grassroots level, e.g.,
Karang Taruna (Youth Union) and KNPI (Indonesia National Youth Council). These
are strategic organizations where DRR could be integrated into their activities as they
have access to vast human resources and have great influences to bring about change
within the community (Mulyasari and Shaw 2012). For example, Karang Taruna is
established in both urban and rural areas, and the networks are nationwide, as they
were formed formally under the Ministry of Social Affairs. DRR could be introduced
through their capacity building events. Enacting the Ministry of Youth and Sports
Affairs Regulation No. 59/2013 that regulates minimum substance to be delivered in
the Youth Leadership Education Curriculum, may be a great opportunity to introduce
DRR substance to various youth organizations.
The most urgent gap that requires intervention is the scattered youth movements.
Such movements will create small scattered impacts with sustainability in question. If those movements are managed properly, they may create larger impacts on
the society. At one point, the Government Regulation 21/2008 on disaster management requires BNPB and BPBDs to have their steering committee (unsur pengarah).
However, among the nine positions for the committee, none specifically requires a
representative of youth, or other groups who often considered as vulnerable, e.g.,
women and disabled groups. Thus, suggesting a policy change to accommodate the
huge potential of youth in all of 534 municipalities in Indonesia is a feasible action.
As noted by previous research, informed children and youth can network within a
community as a highly trusted and politically neutral resource dispelling competing
beliefs, convincing adults of new risks, and instilling more balanced views (Mitchell
et al. 2008). Youth should be considered as dynamic agents of change of disaster risk
reduction rather than simply as agents of risk communication.
Another potential area of integration is to ensure recognition of “youth champion or student ambassador” on disaster management through existing national DRR
policy and program. In other fields, such as environmental management or public
F. Shidiq et al.
Many Indonesian youths nowadays are aware of disaster risks and are willing to
contribute to reduce the risks. Due to their huge potential and passion, their capacity
should be built according to the needs and should be recognized by the government
for disaster risk reduction. For instance, youth organizations that provide disaster
education to communities should be ensured that the materials and methods used are
effective and are not conflicting with any DRR principles. Another example is that
during emergency response, their actions should be well coordinated with BNPB or
BPBD, as regulated in the Government Regulations No. 21/2008.
From the samples in this study, most youth organizations and movements are
limited to disaster education, training, seminars, and emergency response. The
government may want to explore other fields of expertise where youth can take part.
Youth who have passion for doing research can maximize their efforts in research
related to DRR and resilience that could be useful for society. Another option is to
engage youth from various fields of expertise to integrate DRR principles in their
activities, thus whichever fields of expertise they are pursuing, DRR, resilience and
sustainability as core values will be implemented.
Indonesia has developed several institutionalized youth CSOs (Civil Society Organization) that have a structure from the central level up to the grassroots level, e.g.,
Karang Taruna (Youth Union) and KNPI (Indonesia National Youth Council). These
are strategic organizations where DRR could be integrated into their activities as they
have access to vast human resources and have great influences to bring about change
within the community (Mulyasari and Shaw 2012). For example, Karang Taruna is
established in both urban and rural areas, and the networks are nationwide, as they
were formed formally under the Ministry of Social Affairs. DRR could be introduced
through their capacity building events. Enacting the Ministry of Youth and Sports
Affairs Regulation No. 59/2013 that regulates minimum substance to be delivered in
the Youth Leadership Education Curriculum, may be a great opportunity to introduce
DRR substance to various youth organizations.
The most urgent gap that requires intervention is the scattered youth movements.
Such movements will create small scattered impacts with sustainability in question. If those movements are managed properly, they may create larger impacts on
the society. At one point, the Government Regulation 21/2008 on disaster management requires BNPB and BPBDs to have their steering committee (unsur pengarah).
However, among the nine positions for the committee, none specifically requires a
representative of youth, or other groups who often considered as vulnerable, e.g.,
women and disabled groups. Thus, suggesting a policy change to accommodate the
huge potential of youth in all of 534 municipalities in Indonesia is a feasible action.
As noted by previous research, informed children and youth can network within a
community as a highly trusted and politically neutral resource dispelling competing
beliefs, convincing adults of new risks, and instilling more balanced views (Mitchell
et al. 2008). Youth should be considered as dynamic agents of change of disaster risk
reduction rather than simply as agents of risk communication.
Another potential area of integration is to ensure recognition of “youth champion or student ambassador” on disaster management through existing national DRR
policy and program. In other fields, such as environmental management or public