Young Generations Bring New Ideas and Solutions
The younger generations are believed to be able to offer new ideas and solutions because they have a new perspective. Therefore, young people need to be involved in formulating solutions with stakeholders.
Each generation has a different challenge. The younger generations need to be involved in overcoming the nation's problems because they can offer new ideas and solutions.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Indonesia needs a young generation that cares, that is innovative and creative. This can be achieved if the young generation is able to read their potential, develop themselves and project themselves into the future.
The life of the younger generations, namely that of the millennials and generation Z, will be challenging due to the impacts of climate change, such as drought and hydrometeorological disasters, which are getting worse, as well as increased potential outbreaks. Environmental impacts ultimately affect the quality of human life. The quality of air, water and the ground are also decreasing.
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Changes in the world that are so rapid due to technological development can also be a challenge. Advances in technology have an influence on the social and cultural interactions of the society, such as the spread of false news and shifts in values.
The discussion about the younger generations, who will soon become leaders, surfaced in the Kompasfest event presented by BNI at the conference session with the theme "Will, Wit, Wisdom: Lessons for the Future Leaders", at M Bloc Space, South Jakarta, on Friday (8/19/2022).
In the event, which was attended by hundreds of young people both online and off, three governors were present to share their experiences: Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, who attended in-person; attending online were Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo; and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil.
He believes that each generation faces different challenges.
According to Anies Baswedan, Indonesia needs innovative young people. He believes that each generation faces different challenges.
The younger generations are believed to be able to offer new ideas and solutions because they have a new perspective. Therefore, young people need to be involved in formulating solutions with stakeholders.
"I have never been pessimistic about the young people today. I see that all have different challenges; in the process, there is growth into maturity. Every situation has its novel solution; the young generation must find its unique way," Anies said, in front of hundreds of young people present.
It needs time
According to Anies, the learning process in becoming someone who is considered successful requires a long time. "Look at the figures that are considered successful. Always ask: how did they get there? There is a process there. It is important to pay attention to the process of growing from youth to adulthood; what do they learn and what experiences do they gain?" he said.
The leadership of the young generation is becoming important. According to Anies, leadership is not always synonymous with giving orders. Leaders can also give questions to coworkers so that the solution can be discussed together.
According to the United Nations (UN), young people face structural and social obstacles to participating fully and effectively in the political, economic and community domains. These obstacles make young people increasingly at risk of poverty, violence, refugee crisis and marginalization. This is stated in "World Youth Report 2018: Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" published in 2018.
Ganjar Pranowo said that someone who is active in social activities and organizations has more value; that will be a provision in leadership. No less important is the power to establish relationships, including practicing the ability to communicate and understand someone.
Moreover, technological advances provide opportunities for the young generation to become expressive, adaptive, innovative and creative.
In its process, they learn to forge themselves and solve problems by finding solutions and ideas. Discussing with others can help mature the thinking process. Moreover, technological advances provide opportunities for the young generation to become expressive, adaptive, innovative and creative.
"The learning process is important, in galvanizing oneself to feel something that might be in demand and desired by the public," said Ganjar.
Ganjar added that leadership could be formed when someone was in a limited and depressed condition. Because, in such a condition, a person would indirectly be forced to survive in various ways.
Ganjar gave an example: the limitations of money sent by parents makes someone learn to cook their own food to save money. "To be able to survive, someone will use his brain to find additional money. The ability to survive in all these situations is very important as a provision to face various challenges in the future," he said.
Care
Ridwan Kamil said that Indonesia's young generation must have a caring attitude. Another attitude that needs to be honed is maturity in leading. It is not formed suddenly, but through a long process that might not be found in formal paths.
"Many leaders were born because in their lives they dared to attempt trial and error. The experience becomes like a chest with many treasures within," said Ridwan.
According to Ridwan, usefulness is not judged by how many assets can be given to others, nor must one attain any certain position in order to do good. If one has time, give this time to help others, as volunteers. If science is possessed, share it with those in need.
Frequently a number of life lessons are actually obtained from everyday life. These form a pattern of thinking and a person's way of acting; for example, in solving problems by choosing among given solutions. In this case, problem solving can be done by rigorously going to the field to find out the hard facts of the matter, not just by relying on theory and assumptions.
By knowing the pattern, a leader can make it the material for comparison and avoid similar catastrophes in the future.
Traveling to a number of locations can increase one’s reserve of experiences and useful knowledge in the future. He gave as an example that the problems faced by other countries might occur in Indonesia. By knowing the pattern, a leader can make it the material for comparison and avoid similar catastrophes in the future.
"If there is a problem, surely check in the field. Then, read from various sources, such as pictures or videos. Next, switch to the table to ponder and synchronize. The leader's decision is born from the problem in his area. The best leader is the one who can make decisions," said Ridwan.
Productive
At the same event, Editor in Chief of Kompas Sutta Dharmasaputra stressed the importance of young people being prepared to face various challenges. "After the health crisis, the next crisis that confronts us is the environmental crisis, the crisis of the effects of prolonged Russian [and Ukraine] conflict, the energy crisis, the food crisis and the financial crisis," Sutta said.
That means that if there are one hundred people, the country only bears 50 percent that are not productive.
In addition to Indonesia’s work force, the young generation is expected to be able to fill the needs of labor abroad. According to him, since 2012, Indonesia has a productive young generation twice that of unproductive generations. That means that if there are one hundred people, the country only bears 50 percent that are not productive.
"This shows the potential of Indonesia's young generation is very large. They are a source of labor, business actors and of course, also consumers. The important thing is that this productive Indonesian population amounts to 38 percent of ASEAN. Well, I think this is an opportunity; in the future countries of ASEAN such as Singapore and also countries such as Korea, Japan and Australia, they lack young workers. Their youth work force must be supplemented by counterparts here,” said Sutta.
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).