It’s The Youth Pledge Day in Indonesia!
Have you heard about the Youth Pledge Day (Hari Sumpah Pemuda)?
In Indonesia, The Youth Pledge, officially titled Decision of the Congress of Indonesian Youth, is the pledge made by young Indonesians on 28 October 1928, which defined the identity of Indonesians. The decision proclaimed three ideas: one motherland, one nation, and a unifying language.
“Kami putra dan putri Indonesia, mengaku bertumpah darah yang satu, tanah air Indonesia. Kami putra dan putri Indonesia, mengaku berbangsa yang satu, bangsa Indonesia. Kami putra dan putri Indonesia, menjunjung bahasa persatuan, bahasa Indonesia.”
English translation:
“We, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge one motherland, Indonesia. We, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge to be of one nation, the nation of Indonesia. We, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, uphold the language of unity, Bahasa Indonesia.”
Reviving the Purpose of the Oath
In today’s era, the challenges faced by the youth are undoubtedly different, yet the spirit of unity and nationalism reflected in the Youth Pledge remains highly relevant. Today’s youth are exposed to various influences from technological advancements, social media, and globalization. These influences can affect their values and character, including their sense of nationalism and identity as Indonesian citizens.
According to a UNESCO study in the report “Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives,” one of the greatest challenges facing today’s youth is maintaining their identity and cultural values amidst the strong currents of globalization. Globalization brings positive impacts, such as access to knowledge and new opportunities, but it also poses the risk of losing local cultural identity due to the influence of foreign cultures easily accessible through digital media. This leads to challenges in balancing openness to the outside world with preserving national culture.
The study emphasizes the importance of education, which focuses not only on technical skills but also on character building, ethics, and cultural values. In an era where information flows rapidly, and cultural boundaries become increasingly blurred, youth need a strong foundation in understanding their identity and role as part of the Indonesian nation.
The Global Citizenship Education report (UNESCO, 2015) states that global citizenship education is not only about preparing individuals to be active and responsible global citizens but also nurturing a sense of belonging to their local and national communities. Thus, revisiting the spirit of the Youth Pledge—instilling values of unity, pride, and love for the homeland—can be a way to strengthen the character of today’s youth.
Photo Credits: SociopreneurID
A child sticks a piece of paper containing their hopes and dreams for the future of Indonesia
The Spirit of the Youth Pledge in Sociopreneur Indonesia’s Programs: AHAI and BCreator
Sociopreneur Indonesia (SID) believes that the youth have extraordinary potential to be
developed for the nation’s future. One of the spirits of the Youth Pledge is the pride in being part of Indonesia, which is embodied in various programs such as AHAI (Anak Hebat Anak Indonesia) and BCreator. For SID, the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences of every young person in Indonesia are treasures that need to be encouraged and empowered.
The AHAI program, for example, aims to cultivate a love and pride for national identity from an early age. Through creative and educational activities designed with elements of Indonesian culture, AHAI encourages children to understand themselves better and love their homeland. With a fun and interactive approach, this program instils positive traits such as daring to dream, trying new things, and not fearing failure. From these traits, a sense of responsibility, discipline, and confidence emerge. This aims to help children discover the “greatness” within themselves while fostering pride in being part of the Indonesian nation. SID believes that children possess an extraordinary potential that can become a great strength for the nation if given space to learn, explore, and express themselves.
The spirit of togetherness that once united Indonesian youth in 1928 remains relevant and essential to uphold. With a strong character and love for the homeland, Indonesia has a significant opportunity to become a more advanced and prosperous nation. We believe every individual has potential and uniqueness that need to be empowered. Through programs like AHAI and BCreator, we aim to develop youth capacities by helping them recognize their potential, take bold steps, and collaborate. In doing so, Indonesian youth will not only become creative and innovative generations but also possess strong positive character and a deep spirit of togetherness.