Youth or the younger generations have a vital role in the national development process. You will remember the famous saying that Bung Karno once said: “Give me ten youths; I will surely shake the world.”
The phrase reminds us how the younger generation has a heavy-duty and responsibility in advancing their nation. President Soekarno wanted to message that today’s young age determines the hope and future of Indonesia.
The legendary sentence is at the same time ammunition for the youth to move faster to realise the ideals of their predecessors. Namely, it encourages youth in various regions in Indonesia to take an active role in every ongoing development process in all fields.
Young Generation in West Papua
As one of the essential elements of the Indonesian nation, the young generations in West Papua also have the same roles and responsibilities.
The formation of youth organisations from various backgrounds in West Papua seems to be a ‘vehicle’ to move together to build a more just and prosperous West Papua.
Youth organisations in West Papua must be pioneers of change agents. The development process that continues to develop in this province must be part of the task of the younger generation.
Therefore, to carry out this task, the youth must have the requirements to carry out this task. What are the conditions?
What is certain, young people in West Papua must increase their capacity, skills, knowledge, human resource development, and competitiveness. West Papua needs young generations with extensive knowledge, complete competence. Don’t forget, good morals must support it.
Every youth organisation must also help each other and collaborate to build and realise West Papua to be more developed and advanced.
Not only that, but youth organisations must also be able to stem various negative influences from outside as a result of globalisation and the flow of information that tends to damage the younger generation.
Various negative impacts such as pornography, drugs, to promiscuity must be shared responsibility because these problems will hinder the pace of development growth in West Papua.
Young people should take advantage of the rapidly developing information technology in West Papua. The developing modernisation and globalisation in this region must be a means to advance development.
With determination and a strong spirit, which is based on a desire to advance West Papua, the younger generation must respond to every development that occurs.
The dynamic development of the times must be a common concern of the nation’s children. The passage of time demands creativity from every youth so that West Papua is always up-to-date with the times.
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Government Role
So, what is the role of the West Papua provincial government so that the younger generation and youth organisations in the region can play a leading role in the development process?
The most important thing that the government must do for youth organisations in West Papua is to increase the capacity of youth, both in quality and quantity.
This is important because increasing institutional capacity in youth organisations will encourage the younger generation to learn good leadership.
Moreover, the local governments must also provide opportunities for the younger generation to participate and increase activity in youth organisations.
To encourage youth to play an active role in the development process in West Papua, the local government can take the initiative to provide educational scholarships for schoolchildren or indigenous Papuan students who are involved in youth organisations.
In addition to scholarships, local governments can provide incentives for youth who join youth organisations.
With the government’s exceptional attention to youth organisations in West Papua, it is expected that in the future, the Papuan people, especially the younger generation, will understand and love Indonesia more.
If they already have a sense of love, the government will find it easier to direct them to play a more prominent role in the development process in all fields.
