Jakarta – Friday, November 29, 2024
Amanat Research successfully held the Grand Launching of the “Political Future Leader” program, a strategic initiative aimed at encouraging youth participation in politics. The event featured inspirational speakers, including Zita Anjani (Presidential Special Envoy for Tourism), Viva Yoga Mauladi (Deputy Minister of Transmigration), and Tsamara Amany (Special Staff to the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises), who shared insights on the role of politics in shaping the nation’s future. The Political Future Leader program was attended by over 106 participants, both online and offline, selected from 250 applicants. The program focuses on political cadre building, education, and research.
Bayu Satria, Executive Director of Amanat Research, explained that today’s youth hold the key to the nation’s future, noting that 52-55% of the permanent voter list (DPT) consists of young voters. However, low youth participation in politics, both as voters and active participants, poses a significant challenge. “The first step is to increase political participation, particularly in regional areas. The younger generation must be at the forefront of public policy-making, especially policies that concern our future,” said Bayu, who is also a former Chairman of the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI).
Meanwhile, Zita Anjani, the Presidential Special Envoy for Tourism, highlighted the role of youth in advancing Indonesian tourism through political innovation. “Indonesia has a tourism DNA with its diverse natural beauty. However, transforming the public mindset is key to making tourism a national economic strength,” Zita stated. She encouraged youth to be more creative in promoting tourism while recognizing the nation’s vast potential.
Additionally, Viva Yoga Mauladi, Deputy Minister of Transmigration, emphasized the importance of political parties as a medium for youth development. “Political parties that fail to engage young people will lose their relevance. Therefore, political parties must have strong structures, internal democracy, and programs that resonate with the public,” he asserted. “The negative stigma surrounding politics must be transformed into values of struggle for nation-building,” said Viva, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).
At the same event, Tsamara Amany, Special Staff to the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, discussed the role of women in politics. She pointed out that the biggest challenge for women is societal stigma, despite increasing opportunities for involvement. “Political parties must be more proactive in embracing women to enhance public trust in female leaders. We don’t just need women in parliament; we need high-quality women leaders,” she said.
The Political Future Leader program is expected to be a significant initial step in shaping the younger generation into future leaders of integrity. Through cross-sector collaboration involving the government, private sector, and community, this initiative is believed to enhance political awareness, youth participation, and innovations supporting national development.
